OBJECTIVE: The macular pigment xanthophyll protects the macula in two ways: firstly, it absorbs hazardous blue light and secondly, it acts as a radical scavenger. A low concentration of xanthophyll may be regarded as a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Therefore, we investigated a simple method to determine the xanthophyll concentration at the fundus which is suitable for patient screening. METHOD: The local distribution of xanthophyll density was determined from monochromatic blue reflection images and autofluorescence images of the fundus in 18 healthy volunteers (mean age: 23.9 years). The significance of the parameters maximal, global, and mean concentration were compared. RESULTS: The maximal optical density of xanthophyll determined from reflection images was found to be 0.29+/-0.08 (mean for all test persons) which is in good agreement with literature data. The total xanthophyll concentration which is proportional to the maximal density, appeared to be appropriate to describe a person's overall xanthophyll status. Because of the low intensity of autofluorescence images, these are less useful for the determination of the xanthophyll concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Because of it's simplicity, the determination of xanthophyll concentration as described here can be performed by every ophthalmologist using a fundus camera and is, therefore, suitable as a screening method.
OBJECTIVE: The macular pigment xanthophyll protects the macula in two ways: firstly, it absorbs hazardous blue light and secondly, it acts as a radical scavenger. A low concentration of xanthophyll may be regarded as a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Therefore, we investigated a simple method to determine the xanthophyll concentration at the fundus which is suitable for patient screening. METHOD: The local distribution of xanthophyll density was determined from monochromatic blue reflection images and autofluorescence images of the fundus in 18 healthy volunteers (mean age: 23.9 years). The significance of the parameters maximal, global, and mean concentration were compared. RESULTS: The maximal optical density of xanthophyll determined from reflection images was found to be 0.29+/-0.08 (mean for all test persons) which is in good agreement with literature data. The total xanthophyll concentration which is proportional to the maximal density, appeared to be appropriate to describe a person's overall xanthophyll status. Because of the low intensity of autofluorescence images, these are less useful for the determination of the xanthophyll concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Because of it's simplicity, the determination of xanthophyll concentration as described here can be performed by every ophthalmologist using a fundus camera and is, therefore, suitable as a screening method.
Authors: D Schweitzer; G E Lang; B Beuermann; H Remsch; M Hammer; E Thamm; C W Spraul; G K Lang Journal: Ophthalmologe Date: 2002-04 Impact factor: 1.059