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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Measurement of Carotenoids in Perifovea using the Macular Pigment Reflectometer
Published on: January 29, 2020
Macular Pigment Reflectometry: Developing Clinical Protocols, Comparison with Heterochromatic Flicker Photometry and
Pinakin Gunvant Davey1, Richard B Rosen2, Dennis L Gierhart3
1College of Optometry, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA.
Abstract:
The study was designed to: (1) Analyze and create protocols of obtaining measurements using the Macular Pigment Reflectometry (MPR). (2) To assess the agreement of MPOD measurements obtained using the heterochromatic flicker photometry (MPS II) and MPR. (3) To obtain the lutein and zeaxanthin optical density obtained using the MPR in the central one-degree of the macula. The measurements were performed using the MPR and heterochromatic flicker photometry. The MPR measurements were performed twice without pupillary dilation and twice following pupillary dilation. The MPR measurements were performed for a 40-s period and the spectrometer signal was parsed at different time points: 10-20, 10-30, 10-40, 20-30, 20-40, and 30-40 s. The MPR analyzes the high-resolution spectrometer signal and calculates MPOD, lutein optical density and zeaxanthin optical density automatically. The MPR-MPOD data was compared with MPPS II-MPOD results. The MPR-MPOD values are highly correlated and in good agreement with the MPS II-MPOD. Of the various parsing of the data, the data 10-30 interval was the best at obtaining the MPOD, lutein, and zeaxanthin values (8-12% coefficient of repeatability). The lutein to zeaxanthin ratio in the central one-degree of the macula was 1:2.40. Dilation was not needed to obtain the MPOD values but provided better repeatability of lutein and zeaxanthin optical density. MPR generates MPOD measurements that is in good agreement with MPS II. The device can produce lutein and zeaxanthin optical density which is not available from other clinical devices.
Insights
The Macular Pigment Reflectometry (MPR) device accurately measures macular pigment optical density (MPOD), lutein, and zeaxanthin. MPR measurements show good agreement with the MPS II device, offering new clinical insights.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Optical Physics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) is crucial for retinal health.
- Accurate measurement of MPOD, lutein, and zeaxanthin is essential for clinical assessment.
- Existing methods like heterochromatic flicker photometry (MPS II) have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate protocols for Macular Pigment Reflectometry (MPR).
- To assess the agreement between MPR and MPS II for MPOD measurements.
- To determine lutein and zeaxanthin optical density in the central macula using MPR.
Main Methods:
- Measurements were taken using MPR and heterochromatic flicker photometry (MPS II).
- MPR protocols involved varying measurement durations and data parsing intervals (e.g., 10-30s).
- Pupillary dilation effects on repeatability were evaluated.
Main Results:
- MPR-MPOD measurements demonstrated high correlation and agreement with MPS II-MPOD.
- The 10-30s data interval yielded optimal MPOD, lutein, and zeaxanthin values with 8-12% repeatability.
- Pupillary dilation improved repeatability for lutein and zeaxanthin optical density.
Conclusions:
- MPR is a reliable device for measuring MPOD, showing good agreement with MPS II.
- MPR provides lutein and zeaxanthin optical density, offering novel clinical data.
- The 10-30s interval is recommended for MPR data analysis for optimal results.

