Abstract

Xanthophyll, a short-wavelength absorbing, non-bleaching macular pigment consisting primarily of lutein and zeaxanthin (Bone et al., 1985), may partially protect the foveal photoreceptors from light damage (Kirschfeld, 1982). For example, it has been suggested that the characteristic fundus pattern of bull’s eye maculopathies may be the clinical expression of this relative photoprotective effect (Weiter and Delori, 1986). It is of interest, therefore, to develop an objective, noninvasive technique for estimating the optical density of the macular pigment in the human eye.

© 1987 Optical Society of America