Bill Harvey: AAO conference trends

I am convinced we are seeing a resurgence in the use of electrophysiology in the detection and management of eye disease. This was certainly borne out by the AAO conference this year.

The Diopsys system was attracting much interest in the exhibition arena. This uses a small electrode, similar to a small plaster, secured to the face under the lower lid and produces a characteristic electroretinography (ERG) output curve when the patient views various pattern targets. A similar technique may easily generate a visually evoked pattern response (VEP).

The former curve shows changes in pattern when, for example, ganglion cell damage occurs in glaucoma, or where maculopathy changes result from use of drugs like hydroxychloroquine. The latter may detect when a visual pathway defect is reducing vision in the absence of apparent ocular disease. Having such easily and quickly performed objective testing in practice may be the biggest thing since visual fields testing.