The relationship between foveal short-wavelength-sensitive visual function and macular pigment optical density in the ageing age

• The potential protective role of macular pigment in the human eye was investigated.
• Macular pigment levels did not change significantly with increasing age.
• S-cone mediated foveal acuity declined with age irrespective of macular pigment level.
• Higher macular pigment levels do not protect S-cone mediated foveal acuity in the ageing eye.

To investigate the role of macular pigment in preserving foveal short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) visual function in the ageing eye orientation identification acuity was measured in the fovea and at 12° eccentricity (nasal visual field) under SWS-cone isolating conditions in 73 participants (aged 20–71). Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was measured at 0.5° eccentricity from the foveal centre using a heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP) based instrument. MPOD was not significantly related to age but reduced SWS orientation identification acuity was associated with increasing age in the fovea and at 12° eccentricity. The rate at which foveal acuity changed in relation to acuity at 12° with increasing age was not significantly related to macular pigment levels. These findings do not support the hypothesis that higher macular pigment levels protect S-cone mediated foveal visual function in the ageing eye.