Macular Pigment Measurements in Eye & Other Tissues

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to understand the role of nutrition and its effects on the eye and other tissues. The investigators propose to study this by validating and correlating various non-invasive measurement methods of carotenoid concentrations in the human eye and skin tissue. A secondary objective is to correlate blood levels of carotenoids on a sub-set of participants.

Detailed Description
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The macula of the human retina (the structure responsible for high acuity vision essential for reading, driving and recognizing faces) is colored an intense yellow due to the deposition of two carotenoid compounds, lutein and zeaxanthin. These xanthophyll carotenoids are derived exclusively from the diet, and are hypothesized to protect the macula from light-induced oxidative damage by virtue of their light-screening and antioxidant properties. Epidemiological studies have shown that high dietary intake and blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin are associated with lower rates of vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is of interest to correlate carotenoid levels in the eye and skin tissues with blood levels of carotenoid compounds.

Official Title
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Macular Pigment Measurements in Eye & Other Tissues

Conditions
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Macular Pigmentation, Skin Pigment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Carotenoid measurements


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Any patient age 7 or older, undergoing routine dilated ophthalmology examinations at the Moran Eye Center will be eligible to participate. Patients with adult vitelliform dystrophy. (This condition initially presents in adulthood as bilateral subtle and often asymptomatic macular lesions, which are often misdiagnosed as early age-related macular degeneration (AMD)). Exclusion Criteria: Patients under age 7 will not be eligible to participate.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 7 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Carotenoid measurements<br>Subjects are asked to have carotenoid levels measured in the eye, skin and/or blood. | Other: Carotenoid measurements<br>* Carotenoid measurements of the eye (macula) are obtained through non-invasive ophthalmic photographs using the Heidelberg Spectralis imaging system. Carotenoid measurements of the skin are measured by a laboratory instrument that uses a painless blue laser light for exposure of the skin and a photodetector for scattered light. Carotenoid measurements in the blood are obtained through routine venipuncture.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Carotenoid levels in the eye | all study procedures are generally completed in a single study visit | at enrollment | 
| Carotenoid levels in the skin | all study procedures are generally completed in a single study visit | at enrollment | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Carotenoid levels in the blood | all study procedures are generally completed in a single study visit | at enrollment |