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Differential changes in retina function with normal aging in humans

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Abstract

We evaluated the full field electroretinogram (ERG) to assess age-related changes in retina function in humans. ERG recordings were performed on healthy subjects with normal fundus appearance, lack of cataract and 20/20 acuity, aged 20–39 years (n = 27; mean age 25 ± 5, standard deviation), 40–59 years (n = 20; mean 53 ± 5), and 60–82 years (n = 18; mean 69 ± 5). Multiple ERG tests were applied, including light and dark-adapted stimulus-response function, dark adaptation and dynamic of recovery from a single bright flash under dark-adapted conditions. Changes in ERG properties were found in the oldest age group when compared with the two younger age groups. (1) The photopic hill effect was less pronounced. (2) Both photopic a-wave and b-wave amplitudes and implicit times were increased at high stimulus strengths. (3) Dark adaptation time was delayed for pure rod and L/M cone-driven responses, respectively. (4) Dark-adapted a-wave but not b-wave amplitudes were reduced, yielding higher B/A ratios. (5) Dark-adapted a- and b-waves implicit times were prolonged: there was a direct proportional correlation between minimal a-wave implicit times and age. (6) The dynamic of dark current recovery from a bright flash, under dark-adapted conditions, was transiently faster at intervals between 0.9 and 2 s. These results denote that aging of the healthy retina is accompanied by specific functional changes, which must be taken into account to optimally diagnose potential pathologies.

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Acknowledgments

Grants: Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR), the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Olive Young Foundation, the Lena McLaughlin Foundation (Mona & Rod McLennan), and the Alberta Centre on Ageing (ACA). PF was a recipient of an AHFMR summer studentship for 2009. JW was a recipient of an ACA studentship for 2008. FG was funded by an ISCEV visiting scientist grant (2008). YS is an AHFMR Senior Scholar. The authors would like to thank Ms Sharee Kuny for her invaluable assistance in editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada

    Paul R. Freund, Juliane Watson, Gregory S. Gilmour & Yves Sauvé

  2. IPBC, Université de Poitiers, CNRS UMR 6187, Poitiers, France

    Frédéric Gaillard

  3. Department of Physiology, 7-55 Medical Sciences Bldg, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada

    Yves Sauvé

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  1. Paul R. Freund
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Correspondence to Yves Sauvé.

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Freund, P.R., Watson, J., Gilmour, G.S. et al. Differential changes in retina function with normal aging in humans. Doc Ophthalmol 122, 177–190 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-011-9273-2

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