PURPOSE: To analyze the value of electrophysiologic testing according to standards of the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) in infants less than 10 years of age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 64 infants less than 10 years, the results from of age electroretinograms (n = 47), visual evoked potentials (n = 30), or electro-oculograms (n = 1) were recorded. Twenty-nine infants were less than 6 years of age, and 17 infants were less than 3 years of age. Indications for examination were unexplained visual loss in 54 infants and familial hereditary retinal dystrophies in ten infants. Sedation with chloral hydrate was performed in seven children. RESULTS: In 40/64 infants (62%), the results of electrophysiologic examination were pathologic. In 29 infants visual loss was due to retinochoroidal dystrophies, and in 11 infants it was due to disturbances in the optic pathway. In 7/64, infants the suspected retinochoroidal dystrophy could be excluded. Therefore electrophysiologic testing was diagnostically accurate in 47/64 (73%) of cases. CONCLUSION: Electrophysiologic testing according to TSCEV standards can be reliably performed in infants less than 10 years of age. When the indication for electrophysiologic testing is made following meticulous ophthalmologic examination, diagnostic accuracy is given in at least 73% of cases.
PURPOSE: To analyze the value of electrophysiologic testing according to standards of the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) in infants less than 10 years of age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 64 infants less than 10 years, the results from of age electroretinograms (n = 47), visual evoked potentials (n = 30), or electro-oculograms (n = 1) were recorded. Twenty-nine infants were less than 6 years of age, and 17 infants were less than 3 years of age. Indications for examination were unexplained visual loss in 54 infants and familial hereditary retinal dystrophies in ten infants. Sedation with chloral hydrate was performed in seven children. RESULTS: In 40/64 infants (62%), the results of electrophysiologic examination were pathologic. In 29 infantsvisual loss was due to retinochoroidal dystrophies, and in 11 infants it was due to disturbances in the optic pathway. In 7/64, infants the suspected retinochoroidal dystrophy could be excluded. Therefore electrophysiologic testing was diagnostically accurate in 47/64 (73%) of cases. CONCLUSION: Electrophysiologic testing according to TSCEV standards can be reliably performed in infants less than 10 years of age. When the indication for electrophysiologic testing is made following meticulous ophthalmologic examination, diagnostic accuracy is given in at least 73% of cases.