The role of the macular pigment optical density measurement in the diagnosis of eye diseases
EskinaE.N.^1,2,3, Egorov E.A.^4,5, Belogurova A.V.^1,2, Gvetadze А.А.^4,5, Stepanova М.А.<sup>1,2

1</sup> Laser surgery clinic “Sphere”, Moscow 
² National Medical and Surgical Center named after N.I. Pirogov, Moscow 
³  Institute of professional development of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow 
⁴  Russian National Research Medical University named after N.I. Pirogov, Moscow 
⁵ City Clinical Hospital № 15 named after O.M. Filatov of Moscow Health Department

Aim. To evaluate the role of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) assessment in the diagnosis of certain eye diseases in middle age and elderly patients.
Patients and methods. 214 patients (404 eyes) were examined. Group 1 included patients (mean age 45.1 ± 11.5 years) with axial myopia (axial length 26.3±1.6 mm) and no other eye diseases. Group 2 included patients (mean age 60.9 ± 8.1 years) with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Group 3 included patients (mean age 62.0 ± 12.5 years) with early-to-advanced primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Group 4 included patients (mean age 56.2 ± 17.4 years) with POAG and high myopia (axial length 26.3 ± 1.8 mm). Group 5 included healthy controls (mean age 40.8 ± 14.9 years). MPOD was measured using Mpod MPS 1000 densitometer (Tinsley Precision Instruments) based on heterochromatic flicker photometry.
Results. MPOD was 0.28 ± 0.09 in group 1, 0.28 ± 0.14 in group 2, 0.24 ± 0.10 in group 3 (p < 0.05), 0.26 ± 0.12 in group 4 (p < 0.05), and 0.31 ± 0.15 in group 5. Therefore, significant differences were revealed for the patients with POAG and patients with POAG and myopia. In axial myopia patients and AMD patients, MPOD reduced insignificantly. Correlation analysis using Spearmen’s rank correlation coefficient revealed significant but very weak inverse correlation between MPOD and age. No correlations were revealed between MPOD and sex, visual acuity, axial length or glaucoma stage.
Conclusions. In patients with degenerative disorders of the posterior segment, MPOD can be considered as an indicator of external retinal layer state. In addition, MPOD is a potential diagnostic criterion for glaucoma in emmetropia or axial myopia.

Key words: macular pigment optical density, heterochromatic flicker-photometry, degenerative eye diseases.

For citation: Eskina E.N., Egorov E.A., Belogurova A.V. et al. The role of the macular pigment optical density measurement in the diagnosis of eye diseases // RMJ. Clinical ophthalmology. 2016. № 4. P. 197–200.