Article Text
Abstract
Aim To evaluate the relationship between macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and glare disability in open-angle glaucoma.
Methods A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data (88 subjects; median age, 67 (range 36–84) years) collected during the Macular Pigment and Glaucoma Trial (ISRCTN registry number: 56985060). MPOD at 0.25°, 0.5° and 1° of retinal eccentricity was measured using customised heterochromatic flicker photometry. Mesopic contrast sensitivity with glare (mCSg), photostress recovery time (PRT) and self-reported glare symptoms were evaluated. Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography was used to analyse ganglion cell complex (GCC) and identify foveal involvement.
Results Low spatial frequency (f) mCSg was significantly correlated with MPOD at 0.25°(3 cycles per degree (cpd): r=0.25, p=0.04) and 0.5° (3 cpd: r=0.23, p=0.04) of retinal eccentricity. Those with foveal GCC loss exhibited lower MPOD, had worse low spatial fmCSg (1.5 cpd and 3 cpd, p=0.02 each) and prolonged PRT (p=0.02) in comparison with those without foveal involvement. The depth of central 10° field loss was related to MPOD at all eccentricities (p<0.01 for all). Those who reported glare symptoms had a significantly lower MPOD at all retinal eccentricities (0.25° and 1°: p=0.05 each; 0.5°: p=0.04), including those with foveal involvement (0.25°: p=0.05; 0.5°: p<0.01; 1°: p=0.01).
Conclusions Macular pigment level may be an important consideration among those experiencing disability glare in glaucoma, including those with foveal involvement.
Trial registration number ISRCTN56985060, Post-results.
- glaucoma
- macula
- field of vision
- psychophysics
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Footnotes
Contributors Research design: all authors. Data acquisition and/or research execution: WFS. Data analysis and/or interpretation and manuscript preparation: all authors.
Funding Howard Foundation.
Competing interests None declared.
Ethics approval Ethics approval was obtained from the local institutional review boards of the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin and the Dublin Institute of Technology.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
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