Evaluation of the Macula Pigment Optical Density by a Psychophysical Test in Dry Age Related Macula Degeneration

PURPOSE To evaluate the risk factors, macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and factors associated with MPOD in dry age related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: This prospective study included 68 eyes of 68 dry AMD patients and, as the control group, 90 healthy eyes of 90 healthy volunteers with similar ages and genders. Age, gender, family history, smoking, alcohol use, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, height, weight, dietary lutein intake and multivitamin use were questioned in all participants. A full ophthalmic examination of all eyes were made. Colour fundus photography and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images were recorded. MPOD was measured by colour perimetry (CP). To test the short-term repeatability of the technique, a total of 27 eyes of 27 young healthy subjects were measured 3 times on 3 consecutive days. RESULTS: Smoking, obesity, family history, light iris colour, and hyperlipidemia seen more frequently in AMD group. The most frequent fundus finding was hard drusen (79.4%). Average MPOD was measured every three months in the AMD group and values were; 3.69±1.82, 4.74±1.29, 4.99±1.27 ve 5.02±1.35 dB, respectively. In the control group average MPOD measured once at the begining of the study and it was 4.97±1.27 dB. At first visit, the MPOD of the patient group was significantly lower than the control group. Smoking, obesity, poor dietary lutein intake, light iris colour, and hyperlipidemia associated with low MPOD values in both groups. CONCLUSION: The relationship between MPOD and AMD is controversial in the literature. Depending to our results we think there is a relation between MPOD and AMD. Quit smoking, rich dietary lutein/zeaxhantin intake, having normal blood lipid levels and ideal weight is very important for preventing from AMD or AMD progression. The results of the CP method are consistent with the results found in other psychophysical tests in the literature.