The postural variations in the retinal microcirculation in glaucomatous patients were studied by evaluation of the oscillatory potentials (OPs) of the ERG. The OPs in scotopic adaptation were examined in subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma and in an age- and sex-matched normal control group in different body positions (seated, supine, anti-Trendelenburg, Trendelenburg). In the seated position, the difference of mean OP amplitude between the control group and the glaucomatous patients was highly significant (p < 0.001). In the normal subjects the OP amplitude in the Trendelenburg position was statistically lower with respect to the values obtained in all other positions (p < 0.05). In the glaucomatous patient group, the OP amplitude in the anti-Trendelenburg position was increased as compared to the other positions (p < 0.05). The study showed a reduction in amplitude of OPs in glaucomatous patients and their different behaviour in both groups with changes in body position.

Keywords:
Oscillatory potentials, Electroretinogram, Retinal and optic disc microcirculation, Primary open-angle glaucoma, Postural variations
1.
Anderson DR, Grant WM: The influence of position on intraocular pressure. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1973;12:204–212.
2.
Kozart DM, Yanoff M: Intraocular pressure status in 100 consecutive patients with exfoliation syndrome. Ophthalmology 1982;89:214–218.
3.
Hovding G, Aasved H: Prognostic factors in the development of manifest open angle glaucoma: A long-term follow-up of hypertensive and normotensive eyes. Acta Ophthalmol 1986;64:601–608.
4.
Lovasik JV, Kergoat H: Electroretinographic results and ocular vascular perfusion in type 1 diabetes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1993;34:1731–1743.
5.
Scullica L, Ferreri G, Castagna I, Salmeri G, Famà F: Postural test in the diagnostic of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma. New Trends Ophthalmol 1994;IX:103–105.
6.
Lieberman MF, Maumenee AE, Green WR: Histologic studies of the vasculature of the anterior optic nerve. Am J Ophthalmol 1976;82:405–423.
7.
Riva CE, Sinclair SH, Grunwald JE: Autoregulation of retinal circulation in response to decrease of perfusion pressure. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1981;21:34–38.
8.
Grunwald JE, Riva CE, Kozart DM: Retinal circulation during a spontaneous rise of intraocular pressure. Br J Ophthalmol 1988;72:754–758.
9.
Geijer C, Bill A: Effects of raised intraocular pressure on retinal, prelaminar, laminar and retrolaminar optic nerve blood flow in monkeys. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1979;18:1030–1033.
10.
Quigley HA, Hohman RM, Sanchez R, Addicks EM: Optic nerve head blood flow in chronic experimental glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 1986;103:956–959.
11.
Olver JM: Functional anatomy of the choroidal circulation: Methyl methacrylate casting of human choroid. Eye 1990;4:262–272.
12.
Olver JM, Spalton DJ, McCartney ACE: Microvascular study of the retrolaminar optic nerve in man: The possible significance in anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Eye 1990;4:7–24.
13.
Harris A, Ciulla TA, Chung HS, Martin B: Regulation of retinal and optic nerve blood flow. Arch Ophthalmol 1998;116:1491–1495.
14.
Cristini G: Common pathological basis of the nervous ocular symptoms in chronic glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol 1951;35:11–20.
15.
Varma R, Spaeth GL, Hanau C: Positional changes in the vasculature of the optic disc in glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol 1987;104:457–461.
16.
Speros P, Price J: Oscillatory potentials: History, techniques and potential use in the evaluation of disturbance of retinal circulation. Surv Ophthalmol 1981;25:237–252.
17.
Wachtmeister L: Basic research and clinical aspect of oscillatory potentials of the electroretinogram. Doc Ophthalmol 1987;66:187–194.
18.
Coupland SG: A comparison of oscillatory potentials and pattern electroretinogram measures in diabetic retinopathy. Doc Ophthalmol 1987;66:207–218.
19.
Van der Torren K, Van Lith G: Oscillatory potentials in early diabetic retinopathy. Doc Ophthalmol 1989;71:375–379.
20.
Asi H, Perlman I: Relationship between the electroretinogram a-wave, b-wave and oscillatory potentials and their application to clinical diagnosis. Doc Ophthalmol 1992;79:125–139.
21.
Marmor M, Zrenner E: Standard for clinical electroretinography, Doc Ophthalmol 1995;89:199–210.
22.
Algvere P, Westbeck S: Human ERG in response to double flashes of light during the course of dark adaptation: A Fourier analysis of the oscillatory potentials. Vision Res 1972;12:195–214.
23.
Algvere P, Wachtmeister L, Westbeck S: On the oscillatory potentials of the human electroretinogram in light and dark adaptation to short flashes of light, a Fourier analysis. Acta Ophthalmol 1972;50:737–759.
24.
Van der Torren K, Groeneweg G, Van Lith G: Measuring oscillatory potentials: Fourier analysis. Doc Ophthalmol 1988;69:153–159.
25.
Gur M, Zevi Y: Changes in the oscillatory potentials of the electroretinogram in glaucoma. Curr Eye Res 1987;6:457–466.
26.
Ferreri G, Rizzotti A, Buceti R, Romeo D: I potenziali oscillatory nella pseudoesfoliazione capsulare. Boll Ocul 1990;69:1073–1076.
27.
Ferreri G, Buceti R, Romeo D, Fichera G: Studio dei potenziali oscillatori nella miopia. Boll Ocul 1992;71:145–149.
© 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
2002
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.