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Relationship between macular pigment and straylight on the retina
Author(s) -
PUELL MC,
PEREZCARRASCO MJ,
BARRIO AR,
PALOMOALVAREZ C,
SANCHEZ R
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.646.x
Subject(s) - foveal , optics , photometry (optics) , ophthalmology , retinal , glare , fovea centralis , physics , contrast (vision) , light scattering , retina , optometry , scattering , materials science , medicine , astrophysics , stars , layer (electronics) , composite material
Purpose Macular pigment (MP) filters short‐wave light, counteracting the deleterious effects on foveolar resolution of scattering in the ocular media. Large individual differences in MP might also be expected to lead to variations in disability glare and reduce contrast in the retinal image. This study was performed to relate variations in foveal MP density levels to light scattering in the eye Methods Measurements were obtained from 138 healthy subjects aged 52 ± 22.3. The optical density of the MP was estimated at the fovea using the Metropsis Test (Cambridge Research System), which is based on the apparent motion photometry method and employs a CRT monitor for stimulus presentation. Scattered light on the retina was measured using the C‐Quant straylight meter (Oculus AG, Germany) according to the psychophysical compensation comparison method. Values are expressed as logs (of the straylight parameter) for which higher values indicate more scattered light and more sensitivity to glare. Results Mean foveal MP optical density was 0.28 density units (SD 0.16; range 0.0 to 0.74). Mean straylight value was 1.10 log units (SD 0.24; range 0.73 to 1.68). With the regression analysis of linear model, we found a significant correlation (Pearson’s correlation = ‐0.25; p‐value < 0.01) between foveal MP and light scattering in the eye at the 99% confidence level. Straylight was significantly higher for subjects with lower foveal MP level. Conclusion Inter‐subject differences in foveal MP density levels showed correlation with light scattering in healthy non‐cataractous eyes.