Abstract

Deficits in cone temporal processing in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) have been reported for several decades. Specifically, an increased implicit time of the full-field 30-Hz flicker ERG response is considered typical in RP, as reviewed in (1). However, the relationship between this finding and visual function defects in psychophysical testing is not completely understood. Temporal abnormalities have also (but not always (2,3)) been found in psychophysical experiments (4-6), but it remains unclear if these changes reflect temporal slowing of the retina, a reduction in sensitivity, or a reduction in cone quantal catch. Also, variations in local retinal timing may introduce an uncertainty in the ERG, since primarily full-field stimuli are used. Normal focal ERGs have been reported in eyes with RP that had severely affected full-field ERGs (7,8). It is therefore difficult to know how the local retinal area tested psychophysically is affected.

© 1997 Optical Society of America