Vision FAQs Archives

ERG testing in New Albany, MS refers to electroretinography, and it’s used to monitor retinol disorders. This critical part of the eye is the link between what you see with your eyes and what your brain perceives. Without a functioning retina, you can end up misinterpreting your surroundings. In the worst-case scenario, you can go entirely blind. If you’re interested in how it works and why you might need it, we’ll look at three key facts below.

1. ERG Testing Focuses on Functionality

Traditional testing focuses more on finding abnormalities of the retina. In other words, an eye doctor in New Albany might learn about what a normal retina looks like and then use testing to spot abnormalities that could point to specific disorders, like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. ERG testing focuses more on the function of the retina, understanding it from the inside out so there’s more insight into how these conditions first develop and then progress over time.

2. ERG Testing Is Not Painful

ERG testing will put electrodes on or near your eye and then record how your retina responds to flashes of light. The test measures both the speed and the strength of your response, and does not cause the patient any pain. You can expect the doctor to use numbing eye drops, though, to keep discomfort to a bare minimum. The risks of this procedure are virtually non-existent.

3. ERG Testing May Be More Accurate

You may wonder if you have to spring for an ERG test, especially if you haven’t heard of this procedure before. Ultimately, it depends on the patient. For some, the disorder will be painfully obvious to the doctor, with or without a special test. In more complex cases, though, ERG testing may be the only thing that helps in early detection. For many ocular disorders, the sooner the eye doctor can catch the problem, the more likely they’ll be to treat it.

At Weeden Eye Clinic we can tell you more about the accuracy of ERG testing, and how our testing approaches retina disorders in a fundamentally new way. Whether you have a family history of retina disorders or not, we can help you get answers before it’s too late.

Ideally, your vision should be crystal clear with nothing coming between your eyes and the world before you. Over time, and with the introduction of some underlying conditions, you may develop problems with your eyesight and this includes seeing shadows or dark spots. You can compare this to some televisions, where some pixels become damaged and you get a black spot or group of black spots on the TV screen. No amount of wiping the screen will remove the spots, and no amount of blinking will get rid of the shadow in your vision. Here are some possible reasons for that weird shadow in your vision:

Eye Floaters

The simplest explanation is “floaters.” Floaters look like tiny floaty things across your vision, and they should be mostly very low-profile. If it looks like there are lots more or they’re really disruptive of your vision, you should see your optometrist in New Albany, MS to get it checked out.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is when chronically-high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels in the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of your eye, where the retina is. It often causes leaks inside your eye of blood and other fluids, and this is what often causes shadowy spots in your vision. As the condition progresses, it can lead to worsening vision loss and potentially blindness if not managed properly, so you should get a diabetic eye exam in New Albany, MS as soon as possible if you have diabetes.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a degeneration of the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. If you’re over 50 and you have an ever-widening dark spot in the middle of your vision, chances are that you may have macular degeneration, but only your optometrist would be able to accurately diagnose it. Just don’t ignore it, because macular degeneration only gets worse. It never gets better. But treatment can slow the progression, so early detection is key.

If you start to notice shadows in your vision, it’s essential not to ignore them, especially if the changes are sudden or severe. Contact us today to learn more.

3 Facts to Know About ERG Testing