Retinal Screening of Patients Treated with Antiseizure Medications Using Electroretinography

Author(s): Sanaz Abdolalizadeh, Mina Ghasemi, Parastoo Mohammadzadeh, Seyed Mohammad Masoud Shushtarian, Ahmad Shojaei.

Aim: This paper uses electroretinography to identify the probable side effects of antiseizure medications on the retina. A seizure is a severe involuntary shrinkage state of the skeletal muscle and occurs spasmodically. There are certain antiseizure medications, such as carbamazepine and valproic acid. These medications may affect the retinal layers of the visual system.

Methods: Twenty patients (ten males and ten females) in the age range of 15–30 years participated in this study. The patients received treatment with antiseizure medications. Full-field electroretinography was recorded in the population. The electroretinography pattern of the patient group was compared with that of the control group with healthy retina.

Results: There was no statistical difference regarding demographics, i.e., sex and age. This is while the difference in the case of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was significant (P < 0.001). There was also a significant decrease in the amplitude of the ERG b-wave peak between the case and control groups (P < 0.001). However, the difference in terms of the ERG latency of the b-wave peak was not significant.

Conclusions: Antiseizure drugs may affect certain retinal layers. This effect can be diagnosed by the amplitude of ERG, b-wave peak.