Plasma and macular responses to lutein supplement in subjects with and without age-related maculopathy: a pilot study.

There is a growing body of evidence which suggests that macular pigment (MP), which is entirely of dietary origin, protects against age-related maculopathy. We evaluated the effect of a daily 20 mg lutein ester (equivalent of 10 mg/day free lutein) supplement in patients with early age-related maculopathy (ARM), in terms of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and plasma concentrations of lutein. MPOD was measured using a flicker photometric technique in seven ARM sufferers and six age-matched controls over a period of supplementation which lasted 18-20 weeks.

Confocal microscopic observations of the human cornea following overnight contact lens wear.

Background: Striae and folds are observed with a slitlamp biomicroscope in the cornea following overnight contact lens wear. These phenomena are poorly understood. The aim of this study is to employ confocal microscopy to observe and document these and other morphological changes in the human cornea following overnight contact lens wear.