Abstract

The leading edge of the electroretinogram (ERG) a-wave undergoes change during early development that may be interpreted in terms of photoreceptor growth and maturity of the phototransduction mechanism. The a-wave of the ERG recorded in response to a brief flash of light under dark adapted conditions has long been known to reflect the collective responses of rod photoreceptors (Granit, 1933; Hagins, Penn and Yoshikami, 1970). A variety of features of the a-wave have pointed to its photoreceptor origin. Despite understanding of the photoreceptor origin of the a-wave, application to clinical populations, including differentiating normal development from disease states in infants, has been hampered by a number of factors, including the intrusion of the b-wave, which effectively truncates the a-wave in a time- and light- dependent manner.

© 1993 Optical Society of America