Electrodiagnostics is the measurement of electrical activity in the body and can be performed in many areas, including muscles and nerves. In optometry, electrodiagnostic testing is used to observe the functioning of the patient’s retina and optic nerve as it sends electrical signals to the brain. Like many other types of visual diagnostic testing, electrodiagnostic testing is non-invasive and painless.

Electroretinography (ERG) is a common type of electrodiagnostic testing that is similar in function to an electrocardiogram (ECG) for the heart. The patient is subjected to flashes of light, during which the retina’s electrical signals are recorded. This helps the patient’s professional eye care practitioner find abnormalities in the way signals are sent by the retina.

Visual Evoked Response (VER) is another common form of testing that focuses on the pathways that are used to carry electrical signals from the patient’s retina to the brain. During VER testing, the patient is asked to view a moving pattern while activity in the visual pathways is recorded.

Advanced diagnostic and surgical technology plays a crucial role in modern optometry. In many cases, technology is the only means for eye care professionals to diagnose and treat eye disease. More importantly, diagnostic technology is critical for patients who exhibit early stages of devastating eye diseases. Diagnostic testing can be the sole factor that prevents a patient from losing his or her vision from a condition such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or glaucoma.