Alteration of macular ERG after scleral buckling in patients with peripheral retinal detachment

We recorded focal macular ERG before and after scleral buckling in 10 patients with peripheral retinal detachment. In all patients, preoperative visual acuity and macular ERG were normal. Scleral buckling with cyropexy and subretinal fluid drainage was performed and the detachment soon disappeared. In the early postoperative stage (within 2 weeks), the peak time of the b- wave and the first oscillatory potential (O₁) delayed significantly (p < 0.05) and the amplitude of the oscillatory potentials (O₁ + O₂ + O₃) was significantly reduced. In the late postoperative stage (1-6 months), the peak time of O₁ and the amplitude of the oscillatory potentials recovered, but the peak time of the b-wave remained abnormal. These results suggest that the retinal function of the inner layers in the macular legion becomes abnormal after scleral buckling.