Assessment of full-field stimulus test results in Stargardt disease: correlations with full-field electroretinography, multifocal electroretinography, and optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of the Full-Field Stimulus test (FST) in patients with Stargardt disease (STGD), and to compare these results with findings obtained from other ophthalmologicalassesments.Methods Twenty-six eyes with STGD and 26 eyes from healthy controls were included in the study. Following a routine ophthalmologic examination, all participants underwent optical coherence tomography, full-field and multifocal electroretinography, and full-field stimulus testing.Results The mean age was 29.3 years in the STGD group and 27.1 years in the control group. All participants successfully completed the FST procedure. Visual acuity and central macular thickness were significantly lower in the STGD group compared to the control group (p < 0,01). Multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) analysis revealed significantly decreased mean P1-wave amplitudes and prolonged mean P1-wave implicittimes across all rings in the STGD group. Additionally, FST threshols for white, blue and red stimuli were significantly lower in the STGD group than in the control group (p < 0,01). Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between FST results and visual acuity, mfERG amplitudes and central macular thickness.Conclusion FST is a simple, reliable and rapid test that can be applied in patients with low visual acuity. It effectively measures retinal sensitivity in patients with STGD. Given its practicality FST can be safely used to monitor the disease progression and treatment response in inherited retinal diseases.