Summary
This thesis demonstrates that multifocal objective pupillographic perimetry (mfPOP) is a safe diagnostic tool for studying photosensitivity and cortical excitability in neurological disorders including epilepsy and migraine, even when protocols specifically target melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells. The findings have implications for understanding how light exposure can exacerbate neurological symptoms and inform safer lighting protocols for photosensitive populations.
Key Findings
- mfPOP testing was clinically and objectively safe for both migraine and epilepsy patients, with EEGs showing no epileptiform activity during testing.
- Pupillary perimetry responses were increased post-ictally and inter-ictally in epilepsy patients, while decreased after migraine attacks and normal during inter-ictal periods in migraineurs.
- Alpha rhythm entrainment to photic stimulation was more pronounced in epilepsy patients than in the general population, consistent with elevated cortical excitability.
- Anti-epileptic medications in epilepsy patients and triptans in migraine patients both reversed the changes in mfPOP responses, suggesting medication dampens cortical excitability.
- Disease-specific visual field defect patterns were observed, with response delays being more generalized across visual fields than sensitivity changes.
Categories
Eye Health & Vision: The study uses pupillary light response (mfPOP) to examine visual pathway changes in epilepsy and migraine, with specific attention to melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells and photosensitivity.
The Science of Light: The research investigates melanopsin-containing ipRGCs and their role in migraine photosensitivity, as well as alpha rhythm entrainment to photic stimulation as a measure of cortical excitability.
Author(s)
E Ali
Publication Year
2016
Number of Citations
1
Related Publications
Eye Health & Vision
- Diminished pupillary light reflex at high irradiances in melanopsin-knockout mice
- Genetic reactivation of cone photoreceptors restores visual responses in retinitis pigmentosa
- Melanopsin and rod–cone photoreceptors play different roles in mediating pupillary light responses during exposure to continuous light in humans
- Characteristic patterns of dendritic remodeling in early-stage glaucoma: evidence from genetically identified retinal ganglion cell types
- Intrinsically photosensitive melanopsin retinal ganglion cell contributions to the pupillary light reflex and circadian rhythm
The Science of Light
- Phototransduction by retinal ganglion cells that set the circadian clock
- Color appearance models
- The mammalian circadian timing system: organization and coordination of central and peripheral clocks
- Diminished pupillary light reflex at high irradiances in melanopsin-knockout mice
- Melanopsin is required for non-image-forming photic responses in blind mice