The effect of pseudophakia on retinal and cortical functions

Aim To investigate the effect of pseudophakia on visual electrophysiology. Methods Right eyes of 60 pseudophakic (study group) age- and sex-matched 60 phakic (control group) volunteers were included. Subjects without any ocular and systemic disease, who had visual acuity of ≥9/10 underwent full-field electroretinogram (ERG), pattern electroretinogram (PERG), pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) and electro-oculogram (EOG) recordings. Results The P100 latency to 1°-check was significantly shorter in both pseudophakic groups (study group: 102.98±6.11, control group: 107.06±10.70, p=0.012). The P₁₀₀ amplitude to 15'-check was significantly higher in the pseudophakic groups (study group: 13.96±7.01, control group: 11.60±4.69, p: 0.033). Regarding ERG, b-wave implicit time in rod response and a-wave implicit time in standard combined response (SCR) were significantly shorter in the pseudophakic group (p=0.017, and <0.001, respectively). B-wave amplitude in rod response and a-wave amplitude in SCR were significantly higher in the study group (p<0.001 for both). The P1 and N1 amplitude and implicit time differences in 30-Hz flicker response were not significant (p>0.05). Conversely, P3/P4 implicit times in oscillatory potentials (OPs) were delayed in the pseudophakic group (p=0.001, and 0.002, respectively). The P1 amplitude increase in OPs in the study group was significant (p<0.001). The N₉₅ latency in PERG was significantly delayed (p=0.002) and P50 amplitude was increased (p=0.002) in the pseudophakics. Arden ratio in EOG was similar in both groups (p=0.961). Conclusion Pseudophakia seems to influence ocular electrophysiological tests. Possible causes of these influences in the patients with pseudophakia should be clarified by further studies.