Questions and Answers about AMD

What is macular pigment?
Macular pigment is a yellow pigment at the back of your eye which is obtained from your diet

What foods contain macular pigment?
Lutein and zeaxanthin, two of the three components of the macular pigment, can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables (e.g spinach, corn, peppers and most leafy greens). Meso-zeaxanthin, the third component of the macular pigment, is found in slightly unusual foods (such as salmon and shrimp). However, lutein can also be converted into meso-zeaxanthin at the back of the eye.

What does macular pigment do in the eye?
Macular pigment helps protect the retina (back of the eye) from free-radical damage caused by light and oxygen.

Why is reducing free radical damage important?
Protecting against free-radical damage is important as free-radical damage is believed to cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

What is age-related macular degeneration?
AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in people over 50 years of age. This eye disease is particularly frustrating because it results in a loss of central vision. In other words, someone with AMD can see everything except what he/she is looking at, and is therefore unable to read, watch TV, recognise faces or drive.

Do we get enough macular pigment from our diets?
On average we consume only between 1 to 1.3mg/day of lutein and zeaxanthin from our diets, considerably less than the amount needed to protect against free radical and light damage. Meso-zeaxanthin is not found in a typically diet.

How much macular pigment is enough?
The components of the macular pigment, lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin, do not have an established recommended daily allowance (RDA), but doses up to 30 milligrams per day are generally considered safe and effective.

How do I know what my macular pigment levels are and how do I get my levels checked?
It is now possible to have your macula pigment levels checked using a scientifically validated device called the Macuscope™.

How does the Macuscope™ work?
The Macuscope™ measures the amount blue light absorbed by the center of the retina (location of the macular pigment) and by the periphery of the retina (location where there is no macular pigment). As macular pigment is yellow, it absorbs blue light and therefore, a persons macular pigment level can be calculating by subtracting the above two measures.

Is there any danger associated with using the Macuscope™?
No, this is a non-invasive, easy, and safe test to perform.

How often should someone be measured on the Macuscope™?
It is recommended that people have their macular pigment levels measured as part of an annual eye examination and from an early age (e.g. 20 years +).




					Questions & Answers What is macular pigment? Macular pigment is a yellow pigment at the back of your eye which is obtained from your diet What foods contain macular pigment? Lutein and zeaxanthin, two of the three components of the macular pigment, can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables (e.g spinach, corn, peppers and most leafy greens). Meso-zeaxanthin, the third component of the macular pigment, is found in slightly unusual foods (such as salmon and shrimp). However, lutein can also be converted into meso-zeaxanthin at the back of the eye. What does macular pigment do in the eye? Macular pigment helps protect the retina (back of the eye) from free-radical damage caused by light and oxygen. Why is reducing free radical damage important? Protecting against free-radical damage is important as free-radical damage is believed to cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD). What is age-related macular degeneration? AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in people over 50 years of age. This eye disease is particularly frustrating because it results in a loss of central vision. In other words, someone with AMD can see everything except what he/she is looking at, and is therefore unable to read, watch TV, recognise faces or drive. Do we get enough macular pigment from our diets? On average we consume only between 1 to 1.3mg/day of lutein and zeaxanthin from our diets, considerably less than the amount needed to protect against free radical and light damage. Meso-zeaxanthin is not found in a typically diet. How much macular pigment is enough? The components of the macular pigment, lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin, do not have an established recommended daily allowance (RDA), but doses up to 30 milligrams per day are generally considered safe and effective. How do I know what my macular pigment levels are and how do I get my levels checked? It is now possible to have your macula pigment levels checked using a scientifically validated device called the Macuscope™. How does the Macuscope™ work? The Macuscope™ measures the amount blue light absorbed by the center of the retina (location of the macular pigment) and by the periphery of the retina (location where there is no macular pigment). As macular pigment is yellow, it absorbs blue light and therefore, a persons macular pigment level can be calculating by subtracting the above two measures. Is there any danger associated with using the Macuscope™? No, this is a non-invasive, easy, and safe test to perform. How often should someone be measured on the Macuscope™? It is recommended that people have their macular pigment levels measured as part of an annual eye examination and from an early age (e.g. 20 years +).

Questions & Answers