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The macular pigment optical density spatial profile and increasing age

  • Retinal Disorders
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the relationship between the central spatial profile of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and increasing age in normal eyes.

Methods

Ninety-eight individuals (aged 19–71 years) with good visual acuity, free from ocular disease, and with clear ocular media participated. MPOD was measured at 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 1.75° eccentricity from the foveal centre using a heterochromatic flicker photometry based densitometer instrument.

Results

Linear regression analysis revealed that there was no statistically significant association between MPOD and increasing age for the group as a whole at 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00° eccentricity (p > 0.05 for all eccentricities). There was a small but statistically significant positive association between increasing age and MPOD at 1.75° eccentricity (p = 0.020), but age only accounted for 6 % of the variation in MPOD values. Fifteen percent of all participants had a non-exponential MPOD spatial profile.

Conclusion

There was no statistically significant relationship between MPOD and increasing age for three of the four locations measured. A significant proportion of individuals show an atypical MPOD spatial profile, indicating that studies on MPOD should ideally report information on the MPOD spatial profile rather than estimates from only one retinal location.

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Acknowledgement

Supported by a College of Optometrists (UK) Research Fellowship.

Conflict of interests

The author has no financial or other conflict of interest relevant to the subject of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vision Science Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK

    Raymond O. Beirne

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  1. Raymond O. Beirne
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Correspondence to Raymond O. Beirne.

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Beirne, R.O. The macular pigment optical density spatial profile and increasing age. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 252, 383–388 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-013-2471-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-013-2471-8

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