Short latency visual evoked potentials in functional amblyopia shown using moving topography.

The conduction from the eye to the visual cortex through the brainstem was investigated in 43 cases of functional amblyopia by means of moving topography of short latency visual evoked potential (SVEP). Anomaly of the SVEP such as a defect of the main component and remarkable reduction of amplitude was found in cases with severe amblyopia whose visual acuity was less than 0.5. The incidence of abnormal SVEP was recognized in 44% of anisometropic amblyopia (18 cases), 52% of strabismic amblyopia (15 cases), and 50% of deprivation amblyopia (10 cases). The results suggested a reduction of electric activity in the subcortical visual pathway including transmitting nuclei.