The use of RETeval ERG/VEP in Pediatric Ophthalmology

Interviewer:

Welcome, Dr. Ginesta and Dr. Martínez! Thank you for joining us. Dr. Ginesta, could you start by introducing yourself?

Dr. Ayelén Ginesta:

I’m Ayelén Ginesta. I work at the Eye and Ear Institute, in Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina. I studied medicine at the National University of the Northeast (UNNE), where I currently teach, and completed my postgraduate degree at the Catholic University of Cordoba (UCC) on Advances in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. I’m excited to share my experience with electroretinography (ERG), and how we’re able to use the RETeval device in clinical practice, especially in cases with young patients.

Interviewer:

That sounds fascinating. Could you tell us more about the role of electroretinography in pediatric cases?

Dr. Ayelén Ginesta:

Certainly. Electroretinography, or ERG, measures the retina’s electrical response to light. It tracks this response from the photoreceptors through to the optic nerve, providing a functional analysis of the entire visual pathway. This is critical in pediatric cases for diagnosing and understanding conditions that may not be visibly evident. We can use ERG to identify inherited retinal diseases, toxicities affecting the retina, and other systemic conditions that manifest in the eye.

Interviewer:

Electrophysiology tests can be challenging. How does RETeval help make ERG accessible, especially for younger patients?

Dr. Ayelén Ginesta:

Traditional electrophysiological devices are often heavy, require significant patient cooperation, and can be expensive, which limits their availability, especially in Latin America. RETeval, however, simplifies the process. It doesn’t need corneal contact electrodes, instead using adhesive Sensor Strips that are particularly well-suited for pediatric patients, including infants. I even call them “stickers” to make it fun for kids. The setup is quick and minimally invasive, which makes it less intimidating and more practical for children.

Dr. María Ana Martínez:

And I would add that RETeval’s portability means we can conduct exams outside the traditional clinical setting. In my practice, we easily bring the device to surgical settings without any logistic burden, and we can use it in situations with children with special needs, like autism or cerebral palsy. This accessibility is invaluable when we’re working with children who may find clinic visits stressful.

Interviewer:

Dr. Martínez, could you share more about your background and how RETeval is used in your work with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and other conditions?

Dr. María Ana Martínez:

I’m a specialist in pediatric retinal conditions. I studied Medicine at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico and Ophthalmology at the Central Military Hospital. I trained in pediatric retina at top institutions, including NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. I currently work at the Association to Prevent Blindness in Mexico (APEC). I have my own clinic in Toluca, where I specifically treat ROP.

This condition has a significantly higher prevalence in Latin America than in more developed regions, because there are less available resources to manage the disease. Therefore, many children develop ROP stage 5, which not only causes blindness, but also bears the potential side effects of severe pain, abnormal circadian rhythm, cataracts, glaucoma, and more. We specialize in the surgical management of these cases that are quite often complicated by the presence of autism or cerebral palsy. With the RETeval, we can assess the visual function and light perception that could be preserved with surgery, helping us decide on interventions in such cases.

Premature baby with small-sized electrodes: Tiras de sensor

Interviewer:

It sounds like both of you have used RETeval with diverse cases. Could you share any specific examples where it proved to be particularly useful?

Dr. Ayelén Ginesta:

I recently saw an 8-year-old with decreased acuity and altered color vision, which led us to suspect cone-rod dystrophy. Using RETeval’s full-field ERG, we confirmed abnormalities in both rod and cone functions, guiding us toward the diagnosis. The device’s ability to deliver fast, detailed data allowed us to start a tailored management plan immediately.

Dr. María Ana Martínez:

I would love to share two examples of children I was recently managing. One is a three-year-old boy who had aggressive ROP requiring laser and anti-VEGF. We performed a VEP with the RETeval with that boy, finding reasonably good results. This finding was in contrast to a 1 1/2 year-old child with previous stage 4 ROP in both eyes. After performing the VEP with this child, we saw no response for one eye, but a reasonably good result in the other eye. This child then had surgery for the better-seeing eye to maintain as much vision as possible.