{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T12:33:17Z","timestamp":1790253197864,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"8","content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Br J Ophthalmol"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,20]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To evaluate the effects of scleral iontophoresis lutein delivery on macular pigment optical density (MPOD), retinal anatomy and function in patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This prospective pilot study included 15 phakic eyes from patients with iAMD. All participants underwent a single session of trans-scleral iontophoresis with a liposomal lutein formulation. MPOD, central macular thickness (CMT), choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and retinal sensitivity (RS) were assessed at baseline (T0), and at 1\u2009month (T1), 3\u2009months (T2) and 6\u2009months (T3).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>MPOD showed a significant overall change across time points (\u03c7\u00b2=11.01, p=0.012), with significant differences between T1 and T3 (p=0.006) and T2 and T3 (p=0.018). CMT significantly decreased at T3 compared with earlier visits (p\u22640.002). RS declined at early time points (T1 and T2 vs T0; p=0.027\u2009and p=0.002, respectively), while CVI exhibited modest reductions by T2 and T3 (p=0.021\u2009and p=0.017). A significant inverse correlation was found between \u0394MPOD and \u0394RS at T2\u2013T0 (\u03c1=\u22120.520, p=0.035). Best-corrected visual acuity remained stable across all visits.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The inverse correlation between MPOD change and RS decline at 3\u2009months raises the possibility that early augmentation of MP may provide a protective functional effect. These data support the short-term feasibility of scleral iontophoresis for targeted lutein delivery.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo-2025-328403","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,5]],"date-time":"2026-01-05T18:20:22Z","timestamp":1767637222000},"page":"899-906","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Macular pigment optical density following lutein scleral iontophoresis in intermediate age-related macular degeneration: A six-month pilot study"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"110","author":[{"given":"Rodolfo","family":"Mastropasqua","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University \"G. d'Annunzio\" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy"},{"name":"Ophthalmology Clinic, SS Annunziata Hospital, Chieti, 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