Effect of acute intraocular pressure challenge on rat retinal and cortical function

Abstract

Purpose. The global or gross response index of visual performance measured from the eye does not necessarily translate to global responses measured from the brain. A better understanding of this relationship would facilitate the monitoring of disease models that affect the visual pathway. We consider whether rod- and cone-retino-cortical-pathways are equally affected by acute IOP elevation. Methods. Acute, stepwise IOP elevation (10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 mm Hg) was induced in anesthetized dark- (N = 8) and light-adapted pigmented rats (N = 6). Electroretinogram (ERG) and visual evoked potentials (VEP) were simultaneously measured after 10 minutes at each step. Relative amplitudes (treated/base..