MEASUREMENT OF DISTRIBUTION OF MACULAR PIGMENT

Apparatus for use in measuring the density and spatial distribution of macul ar pigment in an eye comprises a camera (4) for capturing a colour image of an eye, at least one filter (36) for filtering light reaching the camera (preferably by filtering the light illuminating the eye). The filter (36) ha s a transmission spectrum with one peak in the region of light absorbed by the pigment and another peak in a region where no such absorption occurs. The filter increases the sensitivity of the camera to macular pigment whilst enabling the effect of other pigments to be reduced or eliminated. A method of measuring macular pigment involves obtaining a colour image of an eye, the image having two colour components each having a spectrum having a respectiv e one of said peaks. Corresponding portions of the components are mathematical ly combined so as to provide a measurement of macular pigment density and the results of the combination are used to provide an output representative of t he contribution of macular pigment to the image.