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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Measurement of Carotenoids in Perifovea using the Macular Pigment Reflectometer
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Differences in macular pigment optical density across four ethnicities: a comparative study.

Pinakin Gunvant Davey1, Christopher Lievens2, Stephanie Ammono-Monney3

  • 1College of Optometry, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E. 2nd St., Pomona, CA 91766, USA.

Therapeutic Advances in Ophthalmology
|June 30, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Macular pigment optical density varies significantly across ethnicities, with South Asian Indians and Hispanics showing higher levels than Caucasians and African Americans. This study found no link between macular pigment optical density and retinal nerve fiber or ganglion cell layer thickness.

Keywords:
carotenoidsluteinmaculamacular pigment optical densityretinal nerve fibre layerzeaxanthin

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Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Optometry
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) is a key indicator of retinal health.
  • Ethnic variations in MPOD may influence ocular health outcomes.
  • Understanding these variations is crucial for personalized eye care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare MPOD levels across four major ethnic groups: Caucasians, African Americans, South Asian Indians, and Hispanics.
  • To investigate the association between MPOD and the thickness of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL).

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 336 healthy adults undergoing routine eye examinations.
  • MPOD was measured using the QuantifEye device.
  • Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to assess macular thickness, RNFL thickness, and GCL thickness.

Main Results:

  • South Asian Indians (0.58 ± 0.16) and Hispanics (0.52 ± 0.15) exhibited significantly higher MPOD than Caucasians (0.41 ± 0.16) and African Americans (0.38 ± 0.15).
  • A significant association was found between ethnicity and MPOD, even after adjusting for age.
  • No significant differences in RNFL and GCL thickness were observed across ethnic groups.
  • MPOD levels showed no significant association with RNFL or GCL thickness.

Conclusions:

  • Ethnic background is a significant determinant of macular pigment optical density.
  • Caucasians and African Americans generally have lower MPOD compared to South Asian Indians and Hispanics.
  • MPOD does not appear to be clinically associated with RNFL and GCL thickness in healthy individuals across different ethnicities.