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Updated: May 22, 2026
Measurement of Carotenoids in Perifovea using the Macular Pigment Reflectometer
Published on: January 29, 2020
Macular pigment optical density in wet age-related macular degeneration among Indians
R Raman1, S Biswas, K Vaitheeswaran
1Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services, Chennai, India. rajivpgraman@gmail.com
Purpose:
To estimate the value of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in adult south Indian population with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods:
A total of 33 patients with wet AMD and 29 age-matched controls >50 years of age underwent MPOD measurement with the macular densitometer. The patients were also tested for their dietary intake of carotenoids, smoking history, and lifetime UV exposure.
Results:
The mean MPOD values in the Indian population with wet AMD was 0.23 (95% CI: 0.18-0.29) vs control was 0.43 (95% CI: 0.37-0.49), P<0.0001, at 0.5° eccentricity. Ex-smokers had a lower MPOD than non-smokers (0.16 (0.09-0.23) vs 0.28 (0.22-0.34), P=0.026) and the lowest level of carotenoids intake had 48% lower MPOD than the highest level (0.14 (0.08-0.21) vs 0.33 (0.24-0.43), P=0.012). There was no significant age-related decline or gender variation in MPOD.
Conclusion:
This study establishes the MPOD in adult Indian population with wet AMD, with a lack of macular pigment in association with wet AMD.
