To assess the effects of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) on
isoluminant stimuli and to quantify MPOD electrophysiologically, MPOD
distribution profiles were obtained in normal subjects using minimum
motion and minimum flicker photometry. Isoluminance of VEP stimuli was
determined using minimum flicker and tritan confusion lines were
determined using a minimum distinct border criterion. Onset–offset
and reversal VEPs to isoluminant red/green, blue/green, and
subject-specific tritan gratings of different diameters were recorded from
the same 14 subjects tested psychophysically. VEPs were additionally
recorded to annular gratings. Chromatic VEP selectivity was assessed by
Fourier analysis and as an index; onset negativity/(onset negativity +
onset positivity). Peak MPOD varied between 0.2–0.8. Chromatic onset
VEPs to all isoluminant 3-deg fields were predominantly negative. Larger
blue/green and tritan stimuli elicited VEPs with additional positive,
achromatic components; for 9-deg gratings, peak MPOD showed negative
correlation with the power of the VEP fundamental (r =
−0.70) and with the selectivity index (r = −0.83).
Annular gratings elicited chromatic-specific B/G VEPs but only when
isoluminance was determined for the annulus. Chromatic selectivity loss in
VEPs to large B/G or Tritan gratings can be used to estimate
subject-specific MPOD. An important implication is that isoluminant Tritan
stimuli with short-wavelength components must be restricted in size in
order to optimize koniocellular selectivity.