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Published on: January 29, 2020
Macular pigment optical density in a Central European population
Antonios Pipis1, Eftychia Touliou, Albert J Augustin
1Staedtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Augenklinik, Karlsruhe, Germany. antoniospipis@hotmail.com
Background And Objective:
The purpose of this study is to measure the macular pigment optical density and study its spatial profile as well as identify its determinant factors in a Central European population.
Patients And Methods:
The macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and its distribution were assessed in 228 eyes of 129 subjects using fundus reflectometry with the Visucam 500 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany).
Results:
A statistically significant positive association between a diet rich in xanthophylls and all MPOD values was found. A positive monotonic relationship was demonstrated between an increasing degree in pigment distribution eccentricity and age, as well as all MPOD values except for area.
Conclusion:
Assuming that macular pigment is protective against age-related macular degeneration, our study highlights the role of nutritional counseling and intervention in preventing this disease. Furthermore, MPOD appears to increase with age, and the distribution of macular pigment appears to form more eccentric profiles.
