s To explore the changes of multifocal electroretinograms (mfERG) before and after retinal detachment surgery and to evaluate its clinical significance Methods Twenty three patients (23 eyes) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment underwent mfERG before and after surgery The latencies and average response densities of N 1 wave and P 1 wave of mfERGs in detached areas, attached areas, fovea and the entire tested area were compared before and after surgery Results Preoperatively, the average response densities of N 1 wave and P 1 wave in the detached area were significantly smaller than those in attached areas ( t =3 68, t =4 26, P <0 01), and the latencies of N 1 wave and P 1 wave in detached areas were significantly longer than those in attached areas ( t =3 07, t =3 89, P <0 01) Postoperatively, the average response densities of N 1 wave and P 1 wave in detached areas, fovea and the entire tested area increased, and there were significant differences pre and postoperatively ( P <0 05) However, the latencies of N 1 wave and P 1 wave before and after surgery showed no significant differences ( P >0 05) Conclusions The mfERG is a useful tool to evaluate the recovery of posterior retinal function after retinal detachment surgery The response density is a more sensitive index than latency to evaluate retinal function of retinal detechment
