Clinical importance of the electro-oculogram with special reference to the chloroquine retinopathy.

Examination of the EOG is surely worthwhile in cases of generalized pigment alteration and in juvenile foveal dystrophies. Its value in the control of chloroquine treatment is still doubted, but the method will become better if an EOG is made before treatment is started. EOGs made during the treatment can then be compared with those made earlier. As a result, the large interindividual variation is replaced by the much smaller intraindividual variation. In a group of normals and patients, the intraindividual standard deviation appeared to be about 10% of the original value of the EOG. Using this criterion, we think the EOG to be a valuable tool in preventing chloroquine retinopathy, although it is not yet certain if static perimetry with red light is still a better method.