[Electrophysiological methods for examining preterm children and diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity].

The first stage of the study was devoted to registration of visual evoked potentials (VEP) in 14 full-term and 27 preterm children without signs of neonatal retinopathy (NR) at the age of 6-7 months. The authors conclude that VEP in preterm children without signs of NR, born at different terms of gestation, reach the values of full-term children by the age of 6 months. These data should be taken account of when examining preterm babies for timely diagnosis of pathological changes in the visual analyzer and treatment. The second stage of the study was developed to registration of VEP and electroretinogram (ERG) in 36 children aged 4-12 years with cicatricial forms of NR. Changes in the central compartments of the retina were responsible for low visual functions in children with the cicatricial stages of NR. This abnormality is caused by displacement of the macular zone, impairment of its electrogenesis and topographic anatomic relationships. Examination of the marginal retinal periphery (superior external quadrant) once a year is obligatory for patients with cicatricial stages of NR in order to timely detect inapparent local fixed detachments or prevent them by timely prophylactic laser coagulation of the retina.