Normal values in clinical electrooculography. 1. Material, method, methodological investigations and distribution of the potential and time parameters.

For the evaluation of normal EOG potential and time parameters a case series (142 eyes) is presented. An EOG technique aiming at the largest possible amplitude between the dark trough and the light peak is described. It is shown that the light-induced response following a 20 min period of adaptation to a very low degree of illumination (about 1/10 lx, allowing a rough orientation on the displayed trace) does not differ from that produced after 20 min of total darkness. Also, the independence of the pupillary area for the light-induced response is demonstrated, which means that the light stimulus employed (2500-4000 lx) is supramaximal. Furthermore, the good quality of the gaze fixation in the actual test situation with respect to the recording of equidistant saccades is proven. A DC amplification of the signal is used, which secures independency of inter- and intra-individual differences in the saccadic velocity and makes possible accurate measurements of deflections disfigured by correcting movements. The following EOG parameters are recorded: A base value after 10 min of preadaptation with the light stimulus, the dark trough and the light peak potentials. Also the periods between the beginning of the dark adaptation and the dark trough and between the dark trough and the light peak are noted. The frequency distribution and the general level of the various parameters are discussed in the light of comparable figures of previous publications.