Effect of temperature on electroretinograph readings during closed vitrectomy in humans
M. Horiguchi and Y. Miyake
Department of Ophthalmology, Nagova University School of Medicine, Japan.
To determine whether intraocular cooling using room-temperature irrigating
solution can cause abnormal electroretinograph readings, we operated on six
patients with premacular fibrosis and minimal retinal detachment, measuring
the temperature in the vitreous cavity and using an electroretinographic
monitor. The temperature in the vitreous cavity dropped to 27 degrees C to
28 degrees C after vitrectomies during which room-temperature solutions
were used. This resulted in abnormal electroretinograph readings (markedly
delayed peak times and reduced amplitudes). These results suggest that the
routinely used room-temperature solution affects retinal function during
vitrectomy; however, this functional change was reversible in patients
having only minimal retinal abnormality.
