Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
09:35
Measurement of Carotenoids in Perifovea using the Macular Pigment Reflectometer
Published on: January 29, 2020
Macular pigment and visual performance under glare conditions
James M Stringham1, Billy R Hammond
1Vision Science Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-3013, USA.
Summary
Supplementing with lutein and zeaxanthin (L+Z) for six months significantly boosts macular pigment (MP) levels. This increase in MP improves visual performance under glare conditions and speeds photostress recovery.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Nutritional Science
- Visual Neuroscience
Background:
- Visual performance, including contrast sensitivity, is often impaired by glare.
- Macular pigment (MP) is hypothesized to mitigate glare disability and enhance photostress recovery due to its light-filtering properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal relationship between macular pigment (MP) and visual performance under glare conditions.
- To assess the effects of lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation on MP density, glare disability, and photostress recovery.
Main Methods:
- Forty healthy subjects received lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation for six months.
- Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was measured using heterochromatic flicker photometry.
- Disability glare and photostress recovery were quantified using standardized visual tasks.
Main Results:
- Baseline MPOD correlated with improved visual performance in glare tasks.
- Six months of lutein and zeaxanthin supplementation significantly increased average MPOD.
- The increase in MPOD led to a significant reduction in the negative effects of glare on visual performance.
Conclusions:
- Macular pigment plays a crucial role in improving glare disability and photostress recovery, consistent with its optical properties.
- Supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin for 4-6 months effectively increases MPOD and enhances visual performance in glare.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...
01:20Anatomy of the Eyeball
The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle layer, the vascular tunic,...
01:32The Retina
The retina is a layer of nervous tissue at the back of the eye that transduces light into neural signals. This process, called phototransduction, is carried out by rod and cone photoreceptor cells in the back of the retina.