Macular pigment optical density measurement: a novel compact instrument

Authors: Beatty, Stephen¹; Koh, Hui-Hiang²; Carden, David²; Murray, Ian J.²

Source: Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, Volume 20, Number 2, March 2000 , pp. 105-111(7)

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Abstract:

Summary

A compact device to derive the optical density of human macular pigment (MP) using heterochromatic flicker photometry is described. The validity of the system is assessed by measuring the optical density spectra of MP in 12 healthy subjects and comparing this with well-established previously published values. The mean spectral absorbance characteristics of MP across subjects corresponds well with accepted values. As reported in other studies, our measurements show a wide variation of MP optical densities between individuals. In our technique within-subject variability is low; standard deviations are between 0.025 and 0.15 in most cases. The overall optical density of MP ranged from 0.08 to 0.84 with a mean of 0.496 and standard deviation of 0.257 at 460 nm. The stimulus size was 0.95 degrees. The unique feature of the technique is that it allows free viewing (not Maxwellian View) of the stimulus, it can be conducted easily and quickly and does not need frequent re-calibration.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1475-1313.2000.00483.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Ophthalmology, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital,Manchester, UK 2: Visual Sciences Laboratory, Department of Optometry and Neuroscience, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology,Manchester M60 1QD, UK

Publication date: 2000-03-01