Foveal cone pigment density difference in the aging human eye.

Using fundus reflectometry, we have measured a decrease in the density difference of the foveal cone visual pigments with age in human subjects. This decrease is consistent with a loss of visual pigment in the retina with age. Fundus reflectance and normalized density difference spectra data are presented for these subjects. A decrease in cone pigment with age would be consistent with both anatomic studies, which indicate a loss and displacement of photoreceptors with age, and psychophysical studies, which demonstrate loss of photoreceptor function with age.