Chandrakumar Balaratnasingam1, Bora Chae2, Meredith H Remmer2, Erasmo Gomez3, Mihoko Suzuki1, Michael Engelbert4, Richard F Spaide1. 1. Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York, United States 2Luesther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan, Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York, United States. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States. 3. Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York, United States. 4. Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York, United States 2Luesther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan, Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York, United States 3Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Scho.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Macular pigments are preferentially concentrated in the central fovea, an area devoid of vasculature. We hypothesized that there may be a link between the macular pigment profile and the size and structural characteristics of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ). METHODS: Two-wavelength autofluorescence method was used to quantify macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and the radius at half peak of MPOD, which was defined as the retinal eccentricity where the MPOD value was 50% of the peak value. Volumetric spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the macula were obtained from 32 subjects. The equivalent radius of the FAZ was determined using data generated from OCT angiography. Generalized estimating equations were used to test the hypothesis that there are interrelationships among the central foveal thickness, peak MPOD, the radius at half peak of MPOD and the equivalent radius of the FAZ. RESULTS: The equivalent radius of the FAZ was highly correlated with the radius at half peak of MPOD (P < .001). The equivalent radius of the FAZ was a significant predictor for central foveal thickness (P < .001). The significant predictor for peak MPOD was central foveal thickness (P = .004). Eyes with larger FAZs were more likely to have a secondary peak in their MPOD spatial profile in a zone ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 degrees from the foveal center. CONCLUSIONS: The spatial distribution of macular pigment is related to the size of the FAZ, in addition to the central foveal thickness. It is possible that xanthophyll pigment accumulation in the macula serves functions, such as attenuation of shorter wavelengths of light, that would have been provided by the light-filtering characteristics of blood vessels.
PURPOSE: Macular pigments are preferentially concentrated in the central fovea, an area devoid of vasculature. We hypothesized that there may be a link between the macular pigment profile and the size and structural characteristics of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ). METHODS: Two-wavelength autofluorescence method was used to quantify macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and the radius at half peak of MPOD, which was defined as the retinal eccentricity where the MPOD value was 50% of the peak value. Volumetric spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the macula were obtained from 32 subjects. The equivalent radius of the FAZ was determined using data generated from OCT angiography. Generalized estimating equations were used to test the hypothesis that there are interrelationships among the central foveal thickness, peak MPOD, the radius at half peak of MPOD and the equivalent radius of the FAZ. RESULTS: The equivalent radius of the FAZ was highly correlated with the radius at half peak of MPOD (P < .001). The equivalent radius of the FAZ was a significant predictor for central foveal thickness (P < .001). The significant predictor for peak MPOD was central foveal thickness (P = .004). Eyes with larger FAZs were more likely to have a secondary peak in their MPOD spatial profile in a zone ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 degrees from the foveal center. CONCLUSIONS: The spatial distribution of macular pigment is related to the size of the FAZ, in addition to the central foveal thickness. It is possible that xanthophyll pigment accumulation in the macula serves functions, such as attenuation of shorter wavelengths of light, that would have been provided by the light-filtering characteristics of blood vessels.
Authors: Anna V Zarubina; Carrie E Huisingh; Mark E Clark; Kenneth R Sloan; Gerald McGwin; Jason N Crosson; Christine A Curcio; Cynthia Owsley Journal: Curr Eye Res Date: 2018-05-01 Impact factor: 2.424
Authors: Deepayan Kar; Mark E Clark; Thomas A Swain; Gerald McGwin; Jason N Crosson; Cynthia Owsley; Kenneth R Sloan; Christine A Curcio Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2020-07-01 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: Christine A Curcio; Gerald McGwin; Srinivas R Sadda; Zhihong Hu; Mark E Clark; Kenneth R Sloan; Thomas Swain; Jason N Crosson; Cynthia Owsley Journal: BMC Ophthalmol Date: 2020-05-19 Impact factor: 2.209