Survey

Researchers at The University of Manchester, UK have been investigating the role of the Macular Pigment and its relation to ARMD for many years.  It is suspected that a low level of macular pigment increases the chance of suffering Macular Degeneration in later life therefore some easy method of assessing levels of macular pigment in an individual, and hence their risk, is well worthwhile.   Link to recent publications

Based on their free view Portable Spectral Sensitivity Instrument, FOSSE, (Perception 19, 359, 1990) they developed a simple technique to assess macular pigment density.

Further research has led to the development of a completely new instrument which is designed specifically to measure levels of macular pigment in the eye and eliminate the major problems encountered with conventional HFP techniques. For more detailed information have a look at the article in the Optician, Jan 2008.

It is  a compact low cost instrument, which is very easy to use and the test now only takes a few minutes. It requires minimal operator intervention and many subjects are able to carry out the test totally unaided.

In a recent study Patients, with early stages of ARMD in only one eye, together with age-matched none-affected subjects, were given a lutein supplement, which is known to be a vital element in supporting the macular pigment.  The findings indicated that all reacted positively, and macular pigment density increased. Some individuals reacted quickly whilst others seemed to take up to six months before the macular pigment density increased.  

In a current follow up major study preliminary results show that subjects with early stage AMD who took a lutein supplement not only showed improvements in their vision but also progression of macular degeneration was significantly slowed.

These and other studies are now complete and the low cost macular pigment screening device is being produced commercially. 

The unit, known in the UK as the Tinsley M|POD^® (Macular Pigment Optical Densitometer) and in the USA as QuantifEYE^® has been developed to the stage where it can be incorporated, not only into standard optometric eye examinations, but more widespread in, for example, pharmaceutical outlets.  

Research Note:
Although widely regarded by many as a 'Gold Standard' Heterochromatic Flicker Photometry is reliant on a subject's response. A Modified Scaning Laser Opthalmascope (SLO) is capable of measuring directly the amount of Macular Pigment present without any subjective component but unfortunately is extremely expensive.  Most researchers now believe this to be the only true 'Gold Standard' by which other devices may be compared.