Early receptor potentials recorded in humans via dermal electrodes. Normative data and prognostic value in retinal detachment.

Early receptor potentials were recorded by skin electrodes positioned at the inferior orbital margin in 32 patients with recent bullous retinal detachments and in nine patients with old, total retinal detachments. Results were compared to those obtained in a normative study performed on 200 healthy subjects. In patients with recent retinal detachments, no significant variations were found with respect to normal subjects. In patients with old retinal detachments, an early receptor potential of decreased amplitude was recorded in only five subjects, while in the other four the trace could not be separated from the noise.