title: Foveal cone pigment density difference in the aging human eye.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D003720:Densitometry; D005260:Female; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000032:analysis*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013053:Spectrophotometry
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments