The pigmentation and geometry of the primate fovea are prominent features thought to be associated with high acuity. We propose to measure the spatial distribution of the macular pigment in the foveal region and relate it to the width of the fovea, especially the avascular zone. Entoptic phenomena caused by macular pigmentation, retinal vasculature, and foveal geometry will be studied in the same subjects. Visual acuity at different eccentricities within the fovea will be measured in human subjects with dense or slight pigmentation and small or large avascular zones. This will test whether the pigmentation and foveal size are tightly linked with visual acuity. The macular pigment will be visualized in vivo in human and monkey eyes by monochromatic fundus photography and the pigment density distribution will be estimated. The avascular zone of the fovea will be measured by fluorescein angiography in the same monkey eyes and a few human eyes for which pigment measures were made. Some of the monkey eyes that were photographed will be excised and the Pigment density will be measured by microspectrophotometry and densitometry to establish the limits of precision of the in vivo technique. Two-dimensional plots of the pigment distribution will be obtained by image analysis. This project will combine the resources of three different laboratories in the Boston area. The long-term objectives of the project are to characterize the natural variations in macular pigmentation and foveal geometry that occur in a representative population of normal human subjects. Our research will establish techniques to estimate macular pigmentation and foveal size in vivo. It will link physical measurements with entoptic phenomena. These phenomena may be useful in obtaining information about the state of the macula in older patients with poor optic media. The availability of the methodology will also make it possible to study whether particular types of foveal pigmentation or foveal geometry are associated with the development of macular degeneration or other disorders of the macula.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY004911-03
Application #
3259528
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1983-09-30
Project End
1987-09-29
Budget Start
1985-09-30
Budget End
1987-09-29
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
Delori, F C; Goger, D G; Hammond, B R et al. (2001) Macular pigment density measured by autofluorescence spectrometry: comparison with reflectometry and heterochromatic flicker photometry. J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis 18:1212-30
Hammond Jr, B R; Wooten, B R; Snodderly, D M (1998) Preservation of visual sensitivity of older subjects: association with macular pigment density. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 39:397-406
Hammond Jr, B R; Wooten, B R; Snodderly, D M (1997) Density of the human crystalline lens is related to the macular pigment carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. Optom Vis Sci 74:499-504
Crabtree, D V; Snodderly, D M; Adler, A J (1997) Retinyl palmitate in macaque retina-retinal pigment epithelium-choroid: distribution and correlation with age and vitamin E. Exp Eye Res 64:455-63
Snodderly, D M; Shen, B; Land, R I et al. (1997) Dietary manipulation of plasma carotenoid concentrations of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). J Nutr 127:122-9
Hammond Jr, B R; Wooten, B R; Snodderly, D M (1997) Individual variations in the spatial profile of human macular pigment. J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis 14:1187-96
Hammond Jr, B R; Johnson, E J; Russell, R M et al. (1997) Dietary modification of human macular pigment density. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 38:1795-801
Crabtree, D V; Adler, A J; Snodderly, D M (1996) Radial distribution of tocopherols in rhesus monkey retina and retinal pigment epithelium-choroid. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 37:61-76
Crabtree, D V; Adler, A J; Snodderly, D M (1996) Vitamin E, retinyl palmitate, and protein in rhesus monkey retina and retinal pigment epithelium-choroid. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 37:47-60
Hammond Jr, B R; Fuld, K; Snodderly, D M (1996) Iris color and macular pigment optical density. Exp Eye Res 62:293-7

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