Lens status and macular pigment optical density in an old French population (MONTRACHET's study: Maculopathy, Optic Nerve, nuTRition, neurovAsCular and HEarT diseases)
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of our study was to compare macular pigment optical density between pkakic and pseudophakic eyes in a population-based study in the elderly.
Methods
The hree city study (3C) included 9294 participants aged 65 years or more from three cities (Bordeaux, Dijon and Montpellier) in 1999. After a 10-year follow-up, Dijon's cohort had a complete ophthalmic examination in the MONTRACHET study; 1153 participants older than 75 years were included. Every participant had fundus photographs, macular pigment optical density measured by two-wavelength autofluorescence. We retained only one eye for each subject, the one with the best image quality. An experimented investigator recorded macular pigment optical density at 0.5, 1, 2, and 6° eccentricity and classified images into one of the three patterns: no ring, ringlike or intermediate. Subjects with age-related macular degeneration were excluded.
Results
We included 534 participants with good image quality. The age was 82.3 ± 3.7 years. There were 247 (46.3%) phakic and 287 (53.7%) pseudophakic. Mean macular pigment optical density was significantly higher in pseudophakic eyes at 0.5° (0.66 ± 0.25 vs 0.44 ± 0.23 density units) at 1° (0.56 ± 0.21 vs 0.39 ± 0.19 density units) at 2° (0.35 ± 0.14 vs 0.25 ± 0.13 density units) and at 6° (0.08 ± 0.04 vs 0.06 ± 0.04 density units), p < 0,0001. There were no significant differences of macular pigment pattern between whatever the lens status (p = 0.64).
Conclusions
Macular pigment optical density measurement by two-wavelength autofluorescence is dependent on the lens status so that it should be taken into account when used in elderly where cataractarct surgery is common.
