Influence of Antioxidants in Cases of Dry AMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration) Studied with Multifocal ERG

Purpose: The aim of this study is to explore the role of multifocal ERG in the management of patients with dry AMD and to assess the therapeutic role of oral antioxidants in dry AMD using multifocal ERG. Methods: A prospective, non randomized study was conducted in patients with dry AMD. Patients were treated with antioxidants. Ophthalmoscopic examination with multifocal ERG was performed at baseline and after 3 months of antioxidants. Results: There were 40 consecutive eyes of 20 patients who received antioxidants according to AREDS study for 3 months. We found that 37.5% patient showed improved visual acuity following 3 months of antioxidant, 40% maintained the visual acuity same as baseline & in 22.5% visual acuity worsened. We observed that there was no significant improvement in the amplitude in mfERG above the baseline post 3 months antioxidant treatment on an average in all the patients. In the group of patients with worsened visual acuity there was a statistically significant decrease in the amplitude in ring 1, ring 2 & on an average suggests that multifocal ERG amplitude changes correlate well with visual acuity changes. Conclusions: Multifocal ERG is definitely useful investigative tool to access improvement or deterioration of visual function vis-à-vis visual acuity. And the changes in multifocal ERG correlate well with the changes in the visual function in patients with dry AMD.