Voluntary alteration of full-field electroretinogram

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether a normal subject can deliberately produce abnormal electroretinogram (ERG) results that simulate disorders of the retina. DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: Five normal subjects were evaluated twice with full,field ERGs. The subjects were randomly assigned to be compliant or noncompliant (i.e., to deliberately attempt to alter the test results) at each visit. Results from compliant eyes were compared with those of noncompliant eyes. RESULTS: While the amplitudes of all parameters were decreased in the noncompliant group, the difference was not statistically significant, and the results were usually within the normal limits of our laboratory. No subject was able to alter the results to mimic a retinal disease or to reproduce a specific pattern of changes. CONCLUSIONS: Although ERG results can be altered by noncompliant subjects, the results are usually only "borderline abnormal" and do not correspond to any pattern of retinal disease. These results confirm that abnormal full-field ERGs indicate true retinal disease. (c) 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.