April 2009
Volume 50, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2009
Macular Pigment Levels Increase Following Blue-Light Filtering Intraocular Lens Implantation
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • J. M. Nolan
    Macular Pigment Research Group, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
  • P. O'Reilly
    Macular Pigment Research Group, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
  • J. Loughman
    Macular Pigment Research Group, Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland
  • E. Loane
    Macular Pigment Research Group, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
  • E. E. Connolly
    Macular Pigment Research Group, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
  • J. Stack
    Macular Pigment Research Group, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
  • S. Beatty
    Macular Pigment Research Group, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  J.M. Nolan, None; P. O'Reilly, None; J. Loughman, None; E. Loane, None; E.E. Connolly, None; J. Stack, None; S. Beatty, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  Alcon Inc
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2009, Vol.50, 1721. doi:
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      J. M. Nolan, P. O'Reilly, J. Loughman, E. Loane, E. E. Connolly, J. Stack, S. Beatty; Macular Pigment Levels Increase Following Blue-Light Filtering Intraocular Lens Implantation. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2009;50(13):1721.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : Photo-oxidative stress is believed to play a role in AMD pathogenesis. Macular pigment (MP), consisting of lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z) and meso-Z, has a max absorption at 460nm and protects the retina from photo-oxidative injury. We investigated whether the blue light filtering properties of the Alcon AcrySof Natural intraocular lens (ANIOL) implanted during cataract surgery impacts on MP optical density (MPOD).

Methods: : 44 patients scheduled for cataract surgery were recruited. All patients had pre-op best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of at least 0.5logMAR in the study eye. Patients were randomised to have either the standard Alcon AcrySof 3-piece acrylic intraocular lens (AIOL) or the ANIOL. Spatial profile of MPOD was measured by customised heterochromatic flicker photometry (cHFP) 1 week pre-op and 1 week post-op, and at 3, 6 and 12 months post-op. Serum concentrations of L and Z were measured at each visit.

Results: : There was a significant positive correlation between MPOD values at 0.25deg recorded 1 week pre- and post-op in eyes implanted with an AIOL (r=0.915,p<0.01;paired samples t-test:p=0.631) and in those implanted with an ANIOL (r=0.868,p<0.05;paired samples t-test:p=0.719). MPOD increased significantly after 3 months in the ANIOL group (p<0.05). There was a significant time effect for serum Z over the study period (p<0.05).

Conclusions: : cHFP can reliably measure MPOD spatial profile in the presence of cataract, and cataract surgery does not artefactually alter MPOD readings. This study provides evidence that implanting a blue-light filtering IOL is associated with augmentation of MPOD in the absence of raised serum L and Z concentrations, consistent with the view that filtering blue light limits photo-oxidative retinal injury, and a consequential depletion of MP. However, further study is required to assess whether these findings are associated with a reduced risk of AMD.

Keywords: macular pigment • intraocular lens • cataract 
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