Photoreceptor type-specific electroretinography in inherited retinal disorders

Over the last decade, there has been renewed interest in human retinal electrophysiology as a technique for studying both the normal human retina as well as how retinal function is affected by disease. The electrical trace recorded as an electroretinogram (ERG) is initiated by light absorption in the (rod and cone) photoreceptors that subsequently activates post-receptoral pathways. It has been difficult to separately investigate ERG signals that are driven by one of the three different cone photoreceptor subtypes, or to distinguish ERG activity derived from separate post-receptoral rod pathways. In this book, new methodological approaches are presented to overcome these difficulties. The selected studies reported herein use novel ERG techniques that have advanced our understanding of both retinal physiology and pathophysiology and should ultimately help to develop better diagnostic tools.