The Macular Pigment Optical Densitometer (MPOD) measures the density of ocular pigments.  Low macular pigment density is considered a risk factor for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD), the most. common cause of permanent vision loss in people over 50 in the UK.

MICHEL GUILLON holistic approach of prevention in eyecare lead the practice to acquire the new instrument as soon as it became available in early 2008.  The measurment of macular pigment density has been included since then in the routine optometric examination of all over 40 and in younger patients with elevated risk factors.  The measurment is easy to carry out and only takes a few minutes.

The production of macular pigment decreases with age.  Scientific clinical publications have shown that targeted supplementation  produces statisticlly  significant increases in macular pigments for those with low macular pigment; hence decreasing a risk facor of AMD. 

The approach at MICHEL GUILLON is to recommend supplementation for patients with low macular pigments and measure their macular pigment density changes over time, to assess the efficacy of the management proposed.