Purpose: To evaluate stereoscopic visual evoked potentials (S-VEP) in normal controls and in patients with glaucomatous optic nerve damage.
Methods: Computer-generated dynamic random-dot stereograms were used to elicit cortical visual evoked potentials using wireless electric liquid crystal shutter glasses. Normal subjects (n=22) and patients with glaucoma (n=22) were investigated using five different disparities from 9 to 40 arc min. Statistical dependency of measurements with different stimulus at identical patients was adjusted for.
Results: Peak times of onset and offset response of S-VEP can be significantly delayed in glaucomas. A general linear regression model confirmed that differences between patients and normals depend on disparity. S-VEP onset shows no significant difference between controls and glaucomas at 9 arc min disparity. At high disparities, however, peak time of the onset response was significantly (p<0.01) delayed in glaucomas when compared with normals (normals: 125.8+/-13 ms, glaucomas: 148.2+/-25.6 ms at 40 arc min).
Conclusions: Visual evoked potential elicited by the onset of a random-dot stereogram can be used for objective measurement of stereoacuity in a clinical setting. Differences between controls and glaucomas in high and low disparities could indicate a stereo-specific deficit in glaucoma.