Assessment of the validity of in vivo methods of measuring human macular pigment optical density.
OBJECTIVE
As a result of the putative protective role of lutein and zeaxanthin at the site of the retina (macular pigment [MP]), interest in the noninvasive measurement of these retinal carotenoids is increasing. In principle, any method used to measure MP in vivo should provide spectral absorption curves that match extinction spectra of MP measured ex vivo.


METHODS
In this article, we assess published spectral curves with respect to this criterion.


CONCLUSIONS
Variation in derived MP measures resulting from methodological differences between techniques is noted and discussed.
Hammond
Billy R
BR
Vision Science Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia (BRH), and Walter S. Hunter Laboratory, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (BRW, BS).
Wooten
Billy R
BR
Smollon
Bill
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000032:analysis*; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000737:chemistry*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009907:Optometry / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000032:analysis*; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*
D012168:Retinal Pigments; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014975:Lutein