The role of the macular pigment optical density measurement in the diagnosis of eye diseases

Extensive research has described the biological and optical characteristics of the macular pigment (MP) and has confirmed its composition and dietary origin. Epidemiological and intervention trials support the protective role of MP in the retina as well as its positive effects on visual function in healthy individuals in addition to patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The amount of MP in the macula can be assessed by measuring a surrogate optical indicator, macular pigment optical density (MPOD). New evidence from recently published clinical trials and a European consensus roundtable have confirmed that MPOD can be increased by increasing the ingestion of lutein and zeaxanthin and that MPOD increase benefits macular health and visual function. On balance, this recent evidence suggests a critical role of MP in eye health as well as the importance of assessing if adequate levels of the dietary macular carotenoids are regularly consumed in order to ensure proper availability for deposition into the macula.

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Is macular pigment optical density really involved in fixation preference?

European Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1177/1120672117747019 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 454-458

Author(s):

Kadriye Erkan Turan ◽

Ali Bulent Cankaya ◽

Hande Taylan Sekeroglu ◽

Onur Inam ◽

Sevilay Karahan

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Mass ◽

Optical Density ◽

Density Measurement ◽

Macular Pigment ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Macular Pigment Optical Density ◽

Fixation Preference ◽

Healthy Eyes ◽

Density Results

Purpose: To evaluate macular pigment optical density in healthy children and to compare the values with those of strabismic children with respect to fixation preference. Methods: The study recruited 54 healthy and 41 strabismic children. Two groups were matched in terms of gestational age, birth weight, and body mass index. All participants underwent complete ophthalmological evaluation and macular pigment optical density measurement and filled a self-reported food frequency questionnaire. Strabismic children were categorized according to fixation preference. Results: The mean age was 9.87 ± 2.39 years in healthy children and 9.07 ± 2.07 years in children with strabismus (p = 0.091). Mean macular pigment optical density was 0.23 ± 0.25 in healthy eyes and 0.25 ± 0.27 in non-preferred eyes of strabismic children (p = 0.964). Macular pigment optical density was significantly higher in preferred eyes of strabismic children (0.43 ± 0.34) compared to non-preferred eyes (p = 0.004) and healthy eyes (p = 0.001). There was a difference of macular pigment optical density between both eyes in patients with grades 1, 2, and 3 fixation preference, whereas patients with grade 4 preference had similar macular pigment optical density in both eyes (p = 0.008). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between macular pigment optical density in preferred eyes and body mass index (r = 0.354, p = 0.023). Conclusion: Preferred eyes of children with strabismus seem to have higher macular pigment optical density readings. This difference may emerge from the higher tendency of recognizing the flicker stimulus while preferred eye is under testing. Similar macular pigment optical density in healthy and non-preferred eyes and the fact that both lower than preferred eyes remain unexplained. It should be kept in mind that macular pigment optical density results should be carefully interpreted and macular pigment optical density in cases with strabismus should be further investigated.

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Macular Pigment Optical Density and Photoreceptor Outer Segment Length as Predisease Biomarkers for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9051347 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 1347 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Norihiro Nagai ◽

Sakiko Minami ◽

Misa Suzuki ◽

Hajime Shinoda ◽

Toshihide Kurihara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Optical Density ◽

Outer Segment ◽

Macular Pigment ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Segment Length ◽

Macular Pigment Optical Density ◽

Photoreceptor Outer Segment ◽

Age Related ◽

Fellow Eyes

To explore predisease biomarkers, which may help screen for the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at very early stages, macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and photoreceptor outer segment (PROS) length were analyzed. Thirty late AMD fellow eyes, which are at high risk and represent the predisease condition of AMD, were evaluated and compared with 30 age-matched control eyes without retinal diseases; there was no early AMD involvement in the AMD fellow eyes. MPOD was measured using MPS2® (M.E. Technica Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), and PROS length was measured based on optical coherence tomography images. MPOD levels and PROS length in the AMD fellow eyes were significantly lower and shorter, respectively, than in control eyes. MPOD and PROS length were positively correlated in control eyes (R = 0.386; p = 0.035) but not in AMD fellow eyes. Twenty (67%) AMD fellow eyes met the criteria of MPOD < 0.65 and/or PROS length < 35 μm, while only five (17%) control eyes did. After adjusting for age and sex, AMD fellow eyes more frequently satisfied the definition (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval, 3.50–60.4; odds ratio, 14.6). The combination of MPOD and PROS length may be a useful biomarker for screening predisease AMD patients, although further studies are required in this regard.

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Macular pigment optical density in central serous chorioretinopathy

Therapeutic Advances in Ophthalmology ◽

10.1177/2515841421997195 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 251584142199719

Author(s):

Burcu Polat Gultekin ◽

Esra Sahli

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Optical Density ◽

Central Serous Chorioretinopathy ◽

Choroidal Thickness ◽

Retinal Thickness ◽

Macular Pigment ◽

Central Retinal Thickness ◽

Macular Pigment Optical Density ◽

Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy ◽

Acute Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the macular pigment optical density in patients with acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy and to describe the association between central retinal thickness and choroidal thickness with the macular pigment optical density. Materials and Methods: Eyes with acute central serous chorioretinopathy and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (patients, who were diagnosed as having disease activity for 6 months) were included in this study. Macular pigment was measured using the heterochromatic flicker technique of the MPS II device for both eyes in patients with acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy and in control subjects. Results: Twenty-seven eyes with acute central serous chorioretinopathy, 23 eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy, and 25 control eyes were enrolled. The mean macular pigment optical density in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (0.480 ± 0.16 density unit (95% confidence interval: 0.390–0.570) was found to be significantly lower than in the control eyes (0.571 ± 0.128 density unit) (95% confidence interval: 0.480–0.670) ( p = 0.007). In correlation analysis, no significant association was detected between the central retinal thickness, choroidal thickness, and macular pigment optical density values in central serous chorioretinopathy group ( p = 0.31, p = 0.71). Conclusion: Macular pigment optical density levels were significantly lower in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy patients than in controls, possibly due to degeneration of the neurosensorial retina, as a result of the long-term persistence of subretinal fluid. There was not a significant correlation between choroidal thickness and macular pigment optical density levels in central serous chorioretinopathy group.

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