Standardizing the Assessment of Macular Pigment Using a Dual-Wavelength Autofluorescence Technique

Abstract

Purpose: It is essential to have an appropriate measure to assess macular pigment (MP) that can provide an accurate, valid, and reliable representation of the MP within the macula. The aim of this study was to describe and introduce MP optical volume (MPOV) as an optimal value for reporting MP. Methods: Three hundred ninety-three subjects were analyzed using the Heidelberg Spectralis with the investigational MP optical density (MPOD) module to measure MPOV and MPOD at four foveal eccentricities (0.238, 0.518, 0.988, 1.768 [78 as reference point]). Lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) dietary intake and serum concentrations were evaluated. Results: MPOV mean was 5094 (95%CI, 4877-5310); range: 527 to 10,652. MPOV was inversely correlated with body mass index and positively correlated with education (r ¼ À0.156, P ¼ 0.002 and r ¼ 0.124, P ¼ 0.014, respectively). Serum concentrations of L and Z were positively correlated with MPOV (r ¼ 0.422, P , 0.001 and r ¼ 0.285, P , 0.001, respectively). MPOV was positively correlated to MPOD at all measured eccentricities, with the strongest agreement at 1.768 (r ¼ 0.906, P , 0.001). Serum concentrations of L and Z, BMI, education, and age (P , 0.001) were found to be significant predictors of MPOV. Conclusions: The Spectralis MPOV measurement provided a comprehensive and detailed evaluation of the MP profile. The Spectralis MPOV should be considered a preferred metric for the assessment of MP.

Effects of Lutein and Astaxanthin Intake on the Improvement of Cognitive Functions among Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…MPOD is dimensionless. Therefore, MP volume is also unitless [37]. Like in the other studies, MP volume after the intervention was also higher than before (MP volume change shows +2558).…”

Visual Function and Macular Carotenoid Changes in Eyes with Retinal Drusen—An Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial to Compare a Micronized Lipid-Based Carotenoid Liquid Supplementation and AREDS-2 Formula

“…Heterochromatic flicker photometry due to its small footprint is perhaps most common clinical device utilized to measure MPOD [4,8,10,15,16,26,41,44,45,48,66,67,72,73]. However, objective techniques such as dual-wavelength autofluorescence [74] or macular pigment reflectometry [21,75,76] could decrease variability in results, given that the participants in this study were clinical patients and not trained participants in a psychophysical study. A learning curve may account for the increase in CSF testing overtime in healthy controls.…”

Local Abundance of Macular Xanthophyll Pigment Is Associated with Rod- and Cone-Mediated Vision in Aging and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

“…Letters are shown for representative values of these functions in older adults with healthy maculas. 34 eccentric than other studies 36 and has been recommended, 35 because it avoids high variance due to non-autofluorescent vasculature at greater eccentricities. We measured mean MPOD for the RMDA test spot (radius = 1°, located 5°, or 1.44 mm, directly superior to the fovea).…”

“…MPOD integrated over the central area, referred to as macular pigment optical volume (MPOV), is proposed as a comprehensive metric. 35,36 Relative to HFP, dual-wavelength autofluorescence MPOD imaging is quicker and more objective, repeatable, and unbiased (i.e., all pixels are included). Its interpretation can benefit from new data on the cellular and subcellular basis of RPE autofluorescence imaging.…”