To assess the macular function by focal macular electroretinography and static perimetry in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa. Eighty-eight eyes of 88 retinitis pigmentosa patients were analyzed. The relationships between the focal macular electroretinography components and the mean deviations (MDs) of the Humphrey Field Analyzer 10-2 were determined. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to determine the integrity of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) and the interdigitation zone. Forward–backward stepwise regression analyses showed that the amplitudes (r = 0.45, P < 0.01) and implicit times (r = ?0.29, P < 0.01) of the b-waves were significantly correlated with the MDs. Some of the eyes had reduced b-wave amplitudes (<1.0 μ V) and disrupted interdigitation zone, despite having a better MD (≥ ?10.0 dB) and intact EZ. Subgroup analyses of eyes with better MD (≥ ?10.0 dB) showed that the EZ width was correlated with the MDs but not with the b-wave amplitude. The thickness of the EZ–retinal pigment epithelium as an alternative indicator of interdigitation zone was correlated with the b-wave amplitude (r = 0.32, P = 0.04) but not with the MDs (r = ?0.10, P = 0.53). The fact that the focal macular electroretinography amplitudes are reduced before the shortening of the EZ in the early stage of retinitis pigmentosa indicates that the focal macular electroretinography amplitudes are an earlier indicator of macular dysfunction than the Humphrey Field Analyzer 10-2 findings.
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