Vep

VEP

A visual evoked potential (VEP) is a simple, noninvasive test that records the brain’s electrical response to visual stimuli, like flashing lights or patterned images. Electrodes are placed on the scalp, usually over the back of the head where visual processing occurs, and they pick up tiny electrical signals generated as the eyes and visual pathways respond to the stimulus. The test yields waves with measurable amplitudes and latencies; the timing and size of these waves tell clinicians whether the visual system is conducting signals normally. VEPs are especially useful because they provide an objective measure of the integrity of the pathway from the eyes through the optic nerves to the visual cortex. That makes them helpful for diagnosing and monitoring conditions that affect vision, such as optic nerve inflammation or other disorders that slow or disrupt signal transmission. VEPs can detect problems even when a person’s subjective report or routine eye exam appears normal. The test is relatively quick, safe, and inexpensive, but the results can be influenced by attention, level of alertness, and how well the patient can fixate on the stimulus. In many settings, VEPs are combined with other tests to build a clearer picture of visual system health and recovery over time.