title: Macular pigment, photopigments, and melanin: distributions in young subjects determined by four-wavelength reflectometry.
abstract: We have developed an objective procedure, using a modified retinal camera, to determine macular pigment (MP) optical density distributions in the human retina. Using two multi-band filters, reflectance maps of the retinas of young subjects (<25 years old) were obtained at 460, 528, 610 and 670 nm, without pupil dilation. The log-transformed maps were combined linearly to yield optical density maps of MP, cone and rod photopigments, and melanin. MP optical density and heterochromatic flicker photometry results for 22 subjects were in reasonable agreement. Cone photopigments, like MP, showed similar, well-defined peaks at the fovea, whereas rod photopigment showed a minimum. Melanin was more broadly distributed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA. bone@fiu.edu
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bone
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brener
authors.forename: Jorge C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gibert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000737:chemistry*; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010781:Photography; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000032:analysis*; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D012168:Retinal Pigments