title: Measurement of macular pigment optical density using two different heterochromatic flicker photometers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare macular pigment optical density using two different heterochromatic flicker photometers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured macular pigment optical density in 121 healthy subjects using heterochromatic flicker photometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (+/-SD) macular pigment optical density measured using the Maculometer was 0.394 (+/-0.170), and that using the Densitometer was 0.395 (+/-0.189). The difference in measurements on each instrument was influenced by age and macular pigment levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On average, there is no difference in measurements provided by these two instruments. The Maculometer tends to underestimate macular pigment in older subjects and/or those with higher macular pigment compared with the Densitometer.
authors.affiliation: Macular Pigment Research Group, Department of Chemical & Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. eloane@wit.ie
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Loane
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005425:Flicker Fusion; D006801:Humans; D014975:Lutein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010783:Photometry / Q000379:methods*; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000378:metabolism*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000378:metabolism*; D065146:Zeaxanthins
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D014975:Lutein