Original Article

Analysis of Macular Pigment Optical Density Change with Age

10.4274/tjo.40.260

  • Nilüfer Koçak
  • Mahmut Kaya
  • Süleyman Kaynak

Received Date: 15.06.2010 Accepted Date: 21.07.2010 Turk J Ophthalmol 2010;40(5):260-265

Purpose:

To evaluate the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) changes with age and other risk factors.

Material and Method:

Eighty-seven normally sighted healthy subjects (34 men, 53 women) ranging in age from 20 to 50 years were evaluated for MPOD. All subjects underwent detailed ophthalmological examination. Iris colors, smoking history and serum lipid profile were recorded. Heterochromatic flickering photometer (MacuScopeTM) was used for the measurements. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their age (Group 1: 20-35 years and Group 2: 36-50 years).

Result:

The mean age was 29.1±4.1years in Group 1 and 43.4±4.5 years in Group 2. Iris color was green-blue in 31% of Group 1 subjects and 24% of Group 2 subjects (p>0.05). The overall mean MPOD was 0.685±0.253 for Group 1 and 0.508±0.203 for Group 2. There was a significant negative correlation between MacuScopeTM readings and age (p=0.001). The MPOD was measured low in 2.6% of Group 1 and in 12.2% of Group 2; high in 34.2% of Group 1 and in 16.3% of Group 2. Smoking history was present in 28.9% of Group 1 and in 28.6% of Group 2 subjects. High serum lipid levels were found in 4.1% of Group 2.

Discussion:

There was a significant negative correlation between MacuScopeTM readings and age in healthy subjects. In our study, there was no correlation between serum lipid profile and smoking history with MPOD. Future controlled trials with larger sample size are needed to investigate the relationship between MPOD and risk factors other than age.

Keywords: MacuScope TM, macula pigment optical density, macular pigment

Full Text (Turkish)