Pediatric Visual Electrophysiology

Visual electrodiagnostic tests can contribute significantly to pediatric ophthalmology. The tests are objective, safe, relatively swift, and easy to administer. They can give unique insight into the functional integrity of different levels of the visual pathway. The electroretinogram (ERG) indicates retinal function, the electro-oculogram (EOG) expresses pigment epithelium function, and the visual evoked potential (VEP ) reflects optic pathway function beyond the eye to the visual cortex. These tests complement, and supplement, other visual methods of assessment. Thus,depending on the clinical context, an abnormal ERG may suggest the necessity for metabolic screening, and an abnormal VEP in association with a normal ERG can indicate the need for structural imaging studies.