The Impact of Macular Pigment Augmentation on Visual Performance in Normal Subjects: COMPASS

This study was conducted to investigate whether augmentation of macular pigment (MP) enhances visual performance (VP). 121 normal subjects were recruited. The active (A) group consumed 12 mg of lutein (L) and 1 mg of zeaxanthin (Z) daily. MP optical density (MPOD) was assessed by customized heterochromatic flicker photometry. VP was assessed as best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), mesopic and photopic contrast sensitivity (CS), glare disability, photostress, and subjective visual function. Subjects were assessed at baseline; 3; 6; 12 months (V1, V2, V3 and V4, respectively). Central MPOD increased significantly in the A group (p \u3c 0.05) but not in the placebo group (p \u3e 0.05). This statistically significant increase in MPOD in the A group was not, in general, associated with a corresponding improvement in VP (p \u3e 0.05, for all variables), with the exception of a statistically significant time/treatment effect in “daily tasks comparative analysis” (p = 0.03). At V4, we report statistically significant differences in mesopic CS at 20.7 cpd, mesopic CS at 1.5 cpd under high glare conditions, and light/dark adaptation comparative analysis between the lower and the upper MP tertile groups (p \u3c 0.05) Further study into the relationship between MP and VP is warranted, with particular attention directed towards individuals with low MP and suboptimal VP. Research highlights ► Identifying that macular pigment significantly increased in the active group. ► Less glare disability for subjects with high macular pigment. ► Improved mesopic contrast sensitivity for subjects with high macular pigment. ► Identifying the need for further research in subjects with low macular pigment

Macular Pigment: Its Associations with Color Discrimination and Matching

Purpose Macular pigment (MP) acts as a pre-receptoral filter which selectively absorbs short wavelengths. It has the potential to alter color vision but the literature is conflicting on whether it does and, if so, to what extent, possibly reflecting differences between color mechanisms and color tests. This study was designed to identify and investigate relationships, if any, between macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and color sensitivity using a battery of techniques to quantify the color vision of color-normal observers. Methods Color vision was assessed with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue test (FM100), Moreland match on the HMC anomaloscope, and a customized SWAP (short wavelength automated perimetry) technique at the foveola and at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 degrees eccentricity. MPOD spatial profile was measured using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry. Results Total error scores (TES) and % partial error scores (%PES) on the FM100 were uncorrelated to MPOD. Moreland matches showed a significant long wavelength shift with MPOD at between 1 and 3 degrees (at 1.75 degrees, r= 0.489, p< .001). Sensitivities on customized SWAP (cSWAP) using foveal targets were significantly inversely correlated with MPOD at both 1.75 degrees (r = -0.461, p < .001) and 3 degrees (r = - .393, p < .001). Partial correlation analysis suggests that none of these findings can be attributed to age effects within the range 18 to 40 years. Conclusions Our findings suggest that dietary supplementation to increase MPOD is unlikely to adversely affect hue discrimination. The association of MPOD with cSWAP may be a temporally limited effect to which the visual system normally adapts. We suggest that cSWAP may provide a clinical tool for assessing short-wavelength foveal sensitivity