AIM:To investigate the value of pattern visual evoked potential(PVEP)and flash electroretinogram(FERG)in early diagnosis and prevention of diabetic retinopathy(DR), analyzing the correlation of early stage DR with PVEP and FERG.

METHODS:Sixty patients, 30 males and 30 females, participated in observation group. Their average age was 19.42±7.78years. The duration of DM was <5a. Best corrected visual acuity was 5.0. Fasting blood glucose was 7.8±3.6mmol/L. There were 60 subjects, 30 males and 30 females, in control group. Their average age was 17.2±6.52years. Best corrected visual acuity was 5.0. Every participator was tested with PVEP and FERG according to ISCVE standard. The amplitude of PVEP and P100 latency were recorded. And the b-wave latency, b-wave amplitude, a-wave latency, a-wave amplitude were showed down.

RESULTS:In observation group, P100 amplitude decreased and P100 latency increased, compared to those of control group(P<0.01); b-wave latency, b-wave amplitude, a-wave latency, a-wave amplitude were different from those in control group(P<0.01); the fasting blood glucose kept stable; P100 amplitude, b-wave amplitude and a-wave amplitude were not related to the DM duration; P100 latency, a-wave latency and b-wave latency were related to the DM duration.

CONCLUSION: PVEP are sensitive to optic neuron damage; FERG is desirable to detect the lesion of Müller cells and bipolar cells. P100 amplitude by PVEP, b-wave amplitude by FERG may be the most sensitive parameter for DR at early stage.