ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

There are three electrophysiological tests conducted in the electrophysiology service at UPH Clinics at Alvernon, UA Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science. The electroretinogram (ERG) is a test that provides information on how well the retina is functioning. Testing is conducted using flashing lights, presented under nighttime (scotopic) conditions and under daytime (photopic) conditions. The visually evoked potential (VEP) provides a measure of the integrity of the pathway from the eye to the brain and on the functioning of the visual area of the brain. It can be conducted using a flashing light or with the patient viewing a checkerboard target. The electrooculogram (EOG) provides information about whether a particular part of the retina is functioning properly. The patient simply looks back and forth between red light targets that flash on and off.

The Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science currently uses an LKC Epic-4000 system for testing and this has greatly improved the information provided by the electrophysiology service. Patients are referred for these tests by various retina specialists in northern and southern Arizona.