With locations in Livingston, Denville, and Newark, New Jersey, Marano Eye Care proudly specializes in an array of innovative and non-invasive diagnostic and treatment methods used to ensure the optic health of all of our patients. While we utilize a variety of diagnostic tests and procedures at Marano Eye Care, our use of the Visual Evoked Potential Test is incredibly important as it constructively measures the status of activity in the entire visual system. Through the results of this test, your ophthalmologist can pinpoint any issues involving the optic nerve pathway, which can cause detrimental changes to your vision. With the ability to perform the Visual Evoked Potential Test, our team is equipped with the tools needed to accurately diagnose any condition affecting the optic nerve pathway, and then find the best solution to effectively preserve your vision.
What is a Visual Evoked Potential Test?
Used to measure the electrical activity of the entire visual system, a Visual Evoked Potential Test (VEP) is an invaluable diagnostic tool that scans for issues along the visual pathway, made up of many cells and synapses that carry visual information to the brain for processing. The visual pathway is inclusive of optic regions such as the retina, optic nerve, optic chiasm, striate cortex, and others. As light enters our eyes, it is converted into an electrical signal by the retina and travels through the optic nerve to the occipital cortex. The occipital cortex is a crucial region in the eye as it is directly responsible for vision. Through the VEP Test, ophthalmologists can measure the strength of the electrical signals sent from the retina to the occipital cortex, via the optic nerve, as well as the rate at which the signals travel. Among the conditions that may be found using a Visual Evoked Potential Test, optic neuritis is a condition commonly linked to multiple sclerosis that involves both pain and vision loss, making this an essential tool in relation to other nerve disorders.
What to Expect During a VEP Test
In order to prepare you for the Visual Evoked Potential Test, a Marano Eye Care associate will ensure that your forehead is both clean and dry before applying three sensory pads to your head. These sensory pads are incredibly important for obtaining information about the electrical signals sent to the occipital cortex. To be fully prepared for the VEP Test, your hair must also be dry, in addition to your skin. Once the pads are properly positioned, your ophthalmologist will ask you to focus on a computer screen placed in front of you, which will show a series of repeating black and white patterns. You may be asked to alternate between covering one eye at a time to record separate results. As the test is taking place, the sensory pads applied to your forehead will be collecting data about the electrical impulses traveling from your retina to your occipital cortex, and this data will be transmitted to a computer that will provide our team with the final results of your VEP Test.
Schedule an Appointment at Marano Eye Care Today
At Marano Eye Care, our trusted medical professionals are truly committed to resolving any vision problems you may be experiencing. With the Visual Evoked Potential Test, our team can efficiently diagnose any medical conditions existing within one or more of the regions across the visual system. Once we identify the cause of your vision issues through our variety of eye tests and procedures, we will work with you to create a plan for addressing the issue and promoting healthy vision. If you have had any recent changes to the state of your vision, please contact us at Marano Eye Care for personalized care from professionals who truly care about your eye health.
