The spatial distribution of macular pigment in humans

To estimate the distributions in width as well as in density of macular pigment (MP) in humans at different ages, imaging fundus reflectometry was employed as a tool to reach our aim.

Imaging fundus reflectometry was used to measure the macular pigment distribution in human eyes with a modified fundus camera to which a cooled CCD camera was attached. The fundus images were taken at 460 nm and 560 nm after the retina was light-adapted to completely bleach rhodopsin. The density of macular pigment was estimated using a model described in the text. The variation in density with retinal eccentricity was fit to Gaussian distribution. The width of MP in retinal eccentricity was estimated by 95% covering area of the distribution profile. A total of 54 normal people served as subjects. They were divided into three groups with ages of 24.8 +/- 2.6 years (N = 24), 40.2 +/- 8.3 years (N = 13) and 67.5 +/- 7.1 years (N = 17) respectively. Statistical t-tests were employed to evaluate the differences in MP density, the half width of MP distributed (HWMPD) in retina with respect to age between the groups. Linear regression was also applied to reveal the relationships of HWMPD distribution with respect to age.

The results indicate that the average MP densities are 0.23 +/- 0.08, 0.22 +/- 0.06 and 0.23 +/- 0.06 density unit (DU) for the young to old age groups. The average MP density is 0.23 +/- 0.07. No statistical significant difference is found in the peak MP density between the groups (all p > 0.05). This result pretty agrees with the data that obtained from others by using optical methods. For the young to old age groups, the average estimated HWMPD are 2.6 degrees +/- 0.5 degrees, 3.1 degrees +/- 0.5 degrees and 4.1 degrees +/- 0.6 degrees respectively. The differences between loci of HWMPD in the three groups are statistically significant with p = 0.0059, p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0001 for young vs. mid-age, young vs. old and mid-age vs. old respectively. Linear regressions for the HWMPD vs. age (r = 0.734, p < 0.001) implies that the macular pigment can gradually accumulate and spread out to the periphery of retina through our life span with an increase rate of approximately 0.03 degrees /year.

The accumulation of MP is reflected by the broader area in the macula lutea due to age, but no significant change is observed in peak density. The cause of the extension in the macular area with respect to age is unknown.