Your eye doctor in Falls Church, VA, will likely use a lot of different technologies during your regular eye exams. The Pattern Electroretinography, for example, is a test to measure the function of your retina. It’s an important test that needs to be performed to perfectly understand the health of your eyes.
About the Test
Optometrists can use PERG on its own to test for retinal disease or with the Visual Evoked Potential to better understand the individual components of visual loss in the entire visual system and retina. This test is both painless and noninvasive, which makes it a good option for various patients.
Like VEP testing, PERG uses pattern-reversal stimuli, such as the alternating checkerboard pattern, in order to test the activity of your retinal ganglion cell. The electrodes used are different, and they are placed in a different location because of the different target being tested. The test used by your optometrist during your Falls Church eye exam may vary.
What it Tests
Often, PERG testing is used to identify subtle signs of retinal disease in Falls Church. Optometrists are able to use this testing to track the change in the function of your eyes, make an early diagnosis and monitor the effects treatments have on any disease. Plainly put, this eye exam test is used to understand how well your retina is at sending electrical signals back. This test can be helpful in catching early signs of:
- Glaucoma
- Diabetes
- Macular Degeneration
- Optic Neuritis
- Ischemic Optic Neuropathies
Because of the electrodes and target of this test, it can be a very beneficial part of maintaining your eye health.
Learn More
If you have any questions about PERG and why it is used, you should talk with your eye doctor in Falls Church, VA. He or she will be able to give you important answers related to the test, the need for the test and what you can do to prepare for any testing.