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High macular pigment enhances performance against glare
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SAN FRANCISCO - Patients with higher macular pigment optical density had better visual performance and more comfort when faced with glare than patients with low MPOD, a study reported in a poster here at Academy 2010 found.
The spatial distribution profiles of 52 healthy adult subjects were analyzed for susceptibility to disability glare, discomfort glare and photostress recovery, Leon N. McLin, OD, MS, FAAO, told PRIMARY CARE OPTOMETRY NEWS. Higher macular pigment resulted in faster photostress recovery times, lower disability glare contrast thresholds and better visual comfort.
"[This study] shows the benefits of macular pigment for young people, not just old people," Dr. McLin told PCON. "All three of our glare measures found significance for the amount of macular pigment and how well you could cope with glare."
The study analyzed how distribution of macular pigment across a population affected their response to different types of glare. Subjects were not given supplementation with lutein or zeaxanthin to increase their macular pigment.
"We related [our findings] to iris pigmentation and pupil size, and we saw a somewhat paradoxical relationship," Dr. McLin said. "The pupils that dilated the smallest when we gave them the highest levels of glare had the most discomfort. [We suspect] patients' pupils contracted because they didn't have more macular pigment; it's working the other way."