Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: The major dietary xanthophyll pigment is lutein and the major risk factor for AMD correlates with low lutein. Epidemiologic, animal and limited human studies suggest that increased macular pigment optical density (MPOD) may protect the retina/RPE complex from oxidation and/or light damage. In this study we evaluated simple glare recovery (GR) as a clinical surrogate marker of MPOD. Methods: MPOD and GR were determined on n=63 females; 57 y/o +/- 13 yrs in a suburban affluent ophthalmologic practice. MPOD was determined psychophysically using a Macular Metrics ® heterochromic flicker photometer per the method of Wooten et al (IOVS 1999;40:2481-9). Uniocular GR was determined using Guilden Opththalmics ® Eger Macular Stressometer according to manufacturer's protocol. This device consists of a handheld electronic flash, digital stopwatch, tape measure and double acuity chart with masks. The practitioner times (in seconds) the recovery to max visual acuity following the photostress. Results: 1) Inter eye MPOD is highly correlated [0.53 sd 0.22 R eye vs. ; 0.51 sd 0.24 L eye; Pearson r= 0.64] accounting for 41 % of the variance of each eye. 2) Inter eye GR is correlated [14.6 sd 13.9 sec R eyes vs 14.6 sd 22.6 L eyes; Pearson r=0.73]. 3) Both R eye and L eye MPOD are inversely correlated with GR [pearson r= -.18 R eyes; -0.28 L eyes]. Conclusion: GR appears to be a weak surrogate marker of MPOD, which in turn may be associated with risk of AMD.
Keywords: 308 age-related macular degeneration • 462 macular pigment