• Reference Number: HEY746/2023
• Departments: Neurophysiology
• Last Updated: 31 May 2023

Neurophysiology Department

Adult Pattern Reverse Visual Evoked Potentials (PRVEP)

Introduction

This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your procedure.  Most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet.  It is not intended to replace the discussion between you and your doctor, but may act as a starting point for discussion.  If after reading it you have any concerns or require further explanation, please discuss this with a member of the healthcare team caring for you.

What is a pattern reverse visual evoked potential?

A Pattern Reverse Visual Evoked Potential is a test of the pathway between your eye and your brain (the optic nerve). The test provides a way of assessing how well the nerve is working.

Why do I need a PRVEP?

Your doctor has requested we perform a PRVEP because you have reported some symptoms that raise the possibility of a problem affecting your nerves.  There are many conditions that can cause these problems. Your symptoms may not necessarily affect your eyes or your vision.

Can there be any complications or risks?

Very occasionally people may experience a slight local reaction at the electrode site. This may cause reddening and soreness.  These symptoms resolve quickly on removal of the electrodes. If you experience these symptoms, please inform the staff attending to you

How do I prepare for the PRVEP?

Please read this information leaflet.  Share the information it contains with your family (if you wish) so that they can be of help and support.  There may be information they need to know, especially if they are taking care of you during/following this examination.

• Please ensure your hair is freshly clean and dry with no spray/gel etc on it.
• If you wear glasses please bring them with you; contact lenses cannot be worn for some of the testing so glasses are needed if you have them.
• Please do not bring children with you as we are unable to accommodate them unless you bring someone to supervise them in our waiting area.
• Please inform us of any eye conditions you may have on the day of the testing.
• Take your medication as normal unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
• Please bring a list of any current medication you are taking.

What will happen?

• On your arrival in the department, we will obtain your consent for the procedure before your investigation begins.
• The clinical physiologist performing the PRVEP will introduce themselves, explain the test to you and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
• The clinical physiologist will first check your visual acuity.
• You will be asked to sit on a chair and the clinical physiologist will measure your head and mark some points on it with a soft pencil. Then a few small electrodes will be placed on your head using sticky paste.  Prior to this the physiologist will rub your head with some gritty paste to obtain a good contact with your skin.
• You will then be asked to look at the centre of a screen that has moving black and white squares on it. Each eye will be tested separately by covering first one eye and then the other with an eyepatch.
• This test is totally painless and there are no after effects. The test can take up to 45 minutes.

What happens afterwards?

• The electrodes will be removed and your head cleaned with warm water. You may wish to bring a brush or comb with you to tidy your hair.  Any residue of paste can be removed by shampooing the hair.
• Once you have left the department the recording will be reviewed by the clinical physiologist and then by a member of the medical team or a senior physiologist who will send a report to the doctor who referred you for the PRVEP. This usually takes up to two weeks.

General advice and consent?

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with your doctor.  You will be asked to give verbal consent and you should be satisfied that you have received enough information before going ahead.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission.  In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you.  You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

For the PRVEP you will be given both verbal and written information and after having time to ask questions, you will be asked to give verbal consent to show you have received enough information and you understand it.  The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits.  What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid.  That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

How much do I need to know?

Some people want to know as much as possible about their condition and possible treatments; others prefer to leave decisions to the experts. No one providing healthcare will force information on you, for example, about the risks of treatment if you do not want to know.  Remember, the person in the best position to know what matters most is you.

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment.  As part of your care, your information will be shared between members of the healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet.  Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service and to help with research.  Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care.  All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it.  If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the Data Protection Act (1998) we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you.  For further information visit http://www.hey.nhs.uk/Patients/confidential-information-about-you.htm

This leaflet was produced by the Neurophysiology Department, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and will be reviewed in March 2026.

Should you require further advice on the issues contained in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact the

Neurophysiology Department on:

Tel: 01482 675339 / tel: 01482 675318

General Advice and Consent

Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.

Consent to treatment

Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.

The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:

• you must be able to give your consent
• you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
• you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person

During the course of your procedure the radiology staff will ask questions that may appear unnecessary to you and these may be repeated at certain intervals. Please be assured that these questions are necessary to ensure that all aspects of your care during the procedure are maintained to a high standard.

Information about you

We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.

We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.

If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.