zeaxanthin and Central-Serous-Chorioretinopathy

Macular pigment (MP) is the collective name for three isomeric carotenoids: lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin. Macular pigment density is greatest in the central retina, peaking at the fovea and falling to negligible levels at 7 degrees of eccentricity from the fovea. Several studies have documented the interocular symmetry of MP optical density (MPOD) spatial distribution. The ongoing University of Missouri-St. Louis study uses a novel, customized heterochromatic flicker photometer to map the spatial distribution of MPOD up to 8 degrees of eccentricity relative to the fovea. Here, we report the MPOD measurements in a subject with resolved central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in the right eye.. Two subjects performed the full MPOD spatial mapping. The test subject (WK) had a history of central serous CSC of the right eye. The control subject (CP) had an unremarkable ocular health history. Comprehensive exams were performed on each subject including Cirrus optical coherence tomography imaging and fundus photographs. Subject CP showed highly symmetric interocular MPOD profiles at the fovea and 2, 4, and 6 degrees of eccentricity. Subject WK showed interocular asymmetry at the fovea and at 2 degrees with relative symmetry at 4 and 6 degrees. A paired sample t test identified nonsignificant interocular values for subject CP and statistically significant differences of at 2 degrees for subject WK.. We hypothesize that subject WK's interocular MPOD spatial distribution asymmetry resulted from his history of resolved CSC. This asymmetry is statistically significant at 2 degrees of retinal eccentricity and corresponds to the extent of retinal pigment epithelium changes observed on the fundus photographs. These findings suggest that MP and retinal pigment epithelium changes after a CSC episode are comparable in the area of the retina affected. These disruptions may also be measureable in other macular conditions in which the sensory retina is affected (e.g., cystoid macular edema and clinically significant macular edema).

Topics: Adult; Central Serous Chorioretinopathy; Female; Humans; Lutein; Male; Photometry; Retinal Pigments; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins

To evaluate macular pigment optical density (MPOD) in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and in normal subjects.. MPOD was measured by autofluorescence spectrometry by using a two-wavelength. Central retinal thickness (CRT) was measured with optical coherence tomography. Statistical analyses were performed to determine factors associated with MPOD.. Ninety-four eyes of 94 normal control subjects, 123 eyes of 70 patients with chronic CSC, and 74 eyes of 41 patients with acute CSC were included. The mean MPOD was 0.548 density unit (DU; 95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.516-0.580) in the control group. Stepwise regression analysis of the control group showed that CRT was associated positively with MPOD (P = 0.0079). The mean MPOD was 0.386 DU (95% CI, 0.352-0.420) in the eyes with chronic CSC, 0.443 DU (95% CI, 0.401-0.484) in fellow eyes with chronic CSC, 0.542 DU (95% CI, 0.493-0.590) in affected eyes with acute CSC, and 0.528 DU (95% CI, 0.475-0.582) in fellow eyes with acute CSC. Stepwise regression analysis showed a significant association between eyes with a lower MPOD and affected eyes with chronic CSC (P = 0.0126) and fellow eyes with chronic CSC (P = 0.0023) and a thinner central retina (P = 0.0016).. MPOD may decrease in eyes with chronic CSC and in the fellow eyes. Low MPOD may indicate a risk of chronic CSC, and a decrease in MPOD may be accelerated by thinning of the central retina.

Topics: Acute Disease; Central Serous Chorioretinopathy; Chronic Disease; Coloring Agents; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Fluorescein Angiography; Humans; Indocyanine Green; Lutein; Male; Middle Aged; Retina; Retinal Pigments; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Visual Acuity; Xanthophylls; Zeaxanthins