Using RETeval System Flicker Electroretinography for Evaluation of Dense Vitreous Hemorrhage.

Abstract

PURPOSE\nTo determine whether the RETeval electroretinography (ERG) system can be used to evaluate eyes with dense vitreous hemorrhage (VH).\n\n\nMETHODS\nThis retrospective case series study included 69 eyes of 69 patients with acute dense VH. Flicker ERGs were recorded by the RETeval system, an ERG device with adhesive skin electrodes. We evaluated the flicker ERG amplitudes in eyes with VH and the ratio of the VH eye amplitudes compared to the fellow eye amplitudes for each VH cause.\n\n\nRESULTS\nIn patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), the amplitude ratios were extremely low (0.08 ± 0.03). To detect RRD, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.977 (95% confidence interval, 0.943-1.000) (best RRD cutoff value, 0.14; sensitivity, 100.0%; specificity, 95.4%). The flicker ERG amplitude was not significantly correlated with initial visual acuity (ρ = -0.189, P = .120) but was positively correlated with postoperative visual acuity in eyes with VH (ρ = -0.328, P = .006).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThe RETeval ERG system was found to be a useful diagnostic option in situations where dense VH precluded fundus examination or posterior vitreous detachment was indistinguishable from RRD.