title: The relationship between macular pigment and visual performance.
abstract: This study was designed to assess whether macular pigment optical density (MPOD) is associated with visual performance. One hundred and forty-two young healthy subjects were recruited. Macular pigment optical density and visual performance were assessed by psychophysical tests including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), mesopic and photopic contrast sensitivity, glare sensitivity, photostress recovery time (PRT). Measures of central visual function, including BCVA and contrast sensitivity, were positively associated with MPOD (p<0.05, for all). Photostress recovery and glare sensitivity were unrelated to MPOD (p>0.05). A longitudinal, placebo-controlled and randomized supplementation trial will be required to ascertain whether augmentation of MPOD can influence visual performance.
authors.affiliation: Macular Pigment Research Group, Optometry Department, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loughman
authors.forename: Mukunda C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Akkali
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.forename: Grainne
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scanlon
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cantwell
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nolan
mesh_terms: D000221:Adaptation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D019466:Glare; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012168:Retinal Pigments / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012168:Retinal Pigments