A new instrument for the quantification of macular pigment density:: first results in patients with AMD and healthy subjects

Background: There is growing evidence that the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is related to oxidative damage. This makes macular pigment (MP) an interesting target for research, as antioxidative quality is related to MP. As studies have shown that MP density (MPD) can be increased by dietary supplementation, MP may also offer a therapeutic or preventive approach to AMD. Methods: Using scanning laser techniques, we quantified MPD in healthy subjects and patients with dry AMD. We introduce a modified scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) which includes several advantages for the use in the clinical routine compared to the standard SLO. Results: We examined 10 healthy subjects without ocular pathology and 10 patients with dry AMD (geographic atrophy). Eyes of patients with AMD had a significantly lower MPD (mean value 0.094 +/- 0.022 density units, DU) than healthy eyes (mean value 0.184 +/- 0.023 DU). Conclusions: It is possible to quantify MPD using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope in a clinical setting. The modified SLO offers several improvements with regard to the special requirements of the clinical situation. Using the new instrument, we were able to detect differences in MPD between patients with dry AMD and young healthy subjects. Further studies are needed to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of the method.