Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To investigate the clinical variation of the distribution of macular pigment (MP) using autofluorescence in normal subjects and in early ARM patients. Methods: BCVA, fundus photographs and SLO-autofluorescence (AF) images of 82 persons were evaluated (42 normals, age range:22-75y, mean age 45y; 40 early ARM patients, age range:57-90y, mean age 73y). The MP was classified by the intensity and the area of reduced AF in the macula, inside (central) and outside (peripheral) a distance of 300microns from the fovea. The distribution pattern could be classified into 4 types: type 1=high levels of central and peripheral MP, type 2= low levels of central and large peripheral MP, type 3=only central MP, type 4= only peripheral MP. Results: The predominant pattern of MP was type 1. This type was seen in 80% of normal subjects and in 60% of early ARM patients. Types 2-3-4 were found in 20% of normal individuals and in 40% of early ARM patients (<0.05). Conclusion: Based on these observations it is postulated that the distribution of macular pigment is correlated with the presence of early ARM. The nature of the causal relationship between the two is not clear. Future studies on the role of macular pigment in the genesis of ARM may require investigation of not only the peak optical density, but also the total amount of macular pigment present, which varies widely in its distribution as well as its density.
Keywords: 462 macular pigment • 308 age-related macular degeneration • 337 carotenoids/carotenoid binding proteins