Electroretinogram

Electroretinogram (often abbreviated as ERG) is a diagnostic test that measures the electrical responses of various cell types in the retina, including the photoreceptors (rods and cones), inner retinal cells (bipolar and amacrine cells), and the ganglion cells.

Overview

Electroretinography is used to detect functional abnormalities in the retina. These abnormalities may lead to conditions such as night-blindness, and other diseases of the retina. The test can be performed in a clinical setting and is non-invasive.

Procedure

During the procedure, an electrode is placed on the cornea. A light stimulus is flashed onto the eye and the electrical response is measured. The patient's eye is numbed with an anesthetic drop, and a small electrode is placed on the cornea. The patient then looks at a light inside a globe. The light flashes, and the electrical response travels down the wire to a device that records the responses. The doctor can study these responses to determine the health of the retina.

Conditions Detected

Electroretinogram can detect a number of retinal diseases, including:

• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Cone-rod dystrophy
• Choroideremia
• Achromatopsia
• Leber's congenital amaurosis
• X-linked retinoschisis
• Congenital stationary night blindness
• Goldmann-Favre syndrome
• Batten disease
• Stargardt disease

See Also

• Ophthalmology
• Retina
• Eye examination
• Visual field test

References

Electroretinogram Resources
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