City Research Online

Abstract

Purpose: Variability in central macular pigment optical density (MPOD) has been reported amongst healthy individuals. These variations seem to be related to risk factors of age-related macular degeneration, such as female gender, smoking, and ethnicity. This study investigates the variations in MPOD spatial profiles amongst ethnicities.

Methods: Using heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP), MPOD was measured at 7 retinal locations in 54 healthy young South Asian and 19 White subjects of similar age. Macular pigment spatial profiles were classified as either typical ‘exponential’, atypical ‘ring-like’ or atypical ‘central dip’.

Results: Central MPOD was significantly greater in South Asian (0.56 ± 0.17) compared to White subjects (0.45 ± 0.18; P = 0.015). Integrated MPOD up to 1.8° i.e. MPODav(0-1.8) was also significantly increased in Asian (0.34 ± 0.09) versus White subjects (0.27 ± 0.10; P = 0.003). MPODav(0-1.8) was significantly increased in all subjects presenting a ring-like profile (0.35 ± 0.08) or central dip profile (0.39 ± 0.09), compared to typical exponential profiles (0.28 ± 0.09; P < 0.0005). We found a statistically significant association between ethnicity and spatial profile type (P = 0.008), whereby an exponential profile was present in 79% of White compared to 41% of the South Asian subjects.

Conclusion: Central MPOD, MPODav(0-1.8), and the prevalence of atypical spatial profiles were significantly increased in South Asian compared to White subjects. Atypical profiles resulted in increased integrated MPOD up to 1.8° and may therefore offer enhanced macular protection from harmful blue light.

Publication Type:	Article
Publisher Keywords:	ethnicity, heterochromatic flicker photometry, macular pigment optical density, macular pigment spatial profiles, Adolescent, Adult, Asian Continental Ancestry Group, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Humans, London, Macula Lutea, Macular Degeneration, Male, Photometry, Prevalence, Retinal Pigments, Retrospective Studies, Young Adult
Subjects:	R Medicine > RE Ophthalmology
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences > Optometry & Visual Sciences
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

Export

Downloads