ARTICLE IN PRESS

The macular pigments (MP) absorb light in the blue–green region of the visible spectrum and comprise two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. In humans the concentration of MP varies widely across the normal population. There are two (not mutually exclusive) proposed roles for MP: to improve visual function and to act as an antioxidant and protect the macula from damage by oxidative stress. In this article we review the origin, spectral characteristics and ocular distribution of MP and also discuss the effect for m improve visual function in theory, to date there is no firm evidence that higher levels of MP are correlated with enhanced measure