AIM: To study the characteristics and variability of flash electroretinogram(F-ERG)in normal adults of different age stages.

METHODS: Thirty cases(60 eyes)of healthy physical examinaees were divided into two groups according to age: 20～30 years old group(15 cases, 30 eyes )and 40～50 years old group(15 cases, 30 eyes), F-ERG was recorded according to standard of International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision(ISCEV), and the parameters and coefficient of variation in the two groups were compared.

RESULTS: Compared with 20～30 years old age group, the implicit time was extended and the amplitude decreased in the 40～50 years old age group, especially amplitude of the dark adaptation of 3.0, light adaptation of 3.0 and oscillatory potentials showed statistical significance(P<0.05); In all the observation indexes, the coefficient of vartation of implicit time was the minimum, the secondary was the amplitude, and the biggest was amplitude of oscillatory potentials.

CONCLUSION: Compared with 20～30 years old age group, the implicit time of ERG is extended and the amplitude is decreased in the 40～50 years old age group. The coefficient of variation of implicit time is the minimum.