Mydriasis-Free Flicker Electroretinograms in 204 Healthy Children Aged 0–18 Years: Reference Data From Two Cohorts

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to summarize the flicker electroretinogram responses (ERGs) in healthy children using RETeval, a small handheld mydriasis-free full-field flicker ERG system. METHODS: Flicker ERGs were recorded with the use of the RETeval system in 204 healthy children (aged 18 years and below) from 2 countries, China and the United States. The effects on ERG measurements of the subject's demographics and location were analyzed. RESULTS: The implicit times have no correlation with the population (China cohort and US cohort), sex, and refractive error. In contrast, the amplitudes were dependent on demographics. The amplitude differences were small compared to the 95% reference interval; therefore, a single (age-corrected) reference interval can be used in both locations and both sexes. The implicit times and amplitudes mature over the first decade of life with exponential time constants of 2.5 years and 4.1 years, respectively, whereas most of the trend is within the first 6 years (implicit times) and 9 years (amplitudes). CONCLUSIONS: The age dependence and percentiles obtained in this study could serve as reference data against which the ERG responses from pediatric patients can be compared. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The flicker ERG is one of the standard methods for the assessment and diagnosis of vision-related disorders. This study provides reference data in pediatric subjects, which can then be used to aid in the interpretation of flicker ERG results.