The Role of Macular Pigment Carotenoids in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-01-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Macular telangiectasia type 2 ("MacTel Type 2") is an uncommon eye disorder that results in
slow vision loss beginning in middle age. The macula is the central part of the retina, which
lines the back of the eye like the film of a camera. The macula is responsible for central or
reading vision. Telangiectasis refers to dilated, leaky vessels, for example varicose veins
in the legs. One of the earliest manifestations of macular telangiectasia type 2 is an
acquired reduction and/or redistribution of the macular pigment carotenoids at the foveal
center. Currently, the biochemical mechanisms and clinical significance underlying these
changes are not known, but it seems likely that better understanding of this phenomenon could
lead to new interventions against MacTel.
The objectives of this study are to image the maculas of MacTel subjects using two-wavelength
autofluorescence imaging and resonance Raman imaging to target the 7-degree radius pigment
ring characteristic of macular telangiectasia type 2 in order to gain further insight into
the significance of this early clinical sign, and to evaluate whether supplementation with
oral zeaxanthin can normalize macular pigment distribution in MacTel subjects