How Is Albinism Treated? Albinism represents a group of conditions characterized by a defect in the production of the pigment melanin , normally found in skin, eyes, and hair.
Any one of a number of genes responsible for the production of melanin can lead to albinism. There are two major types of albinism:. Ocular albinism primarily affects the eyes, by reducing the coloring pigmentation in the eye, which is essential for normal vision. Ocular albinism causes mild to moderate central vision impairment in most patients. While individuals with this disorder retain some vision, they may be legally blind.
The most common form of ocular albinism is Type 1 or Nettleship-Falls. It affects at least 1 in 60, males but only a very small number of women. Women are the carriers of the gene mutations that cause the disorder. While there is no cure for the condition, glasses, contacts, and low vision aids and devices can help those with the condition maximize their remaining vision and experience a much higher quality of life.
Contact an IALVS low vision eye doctor learn how we can help individuals with low vision live better, thanks an array of low vision aids, devices, and strategies. Ocular albinism mainly affects the eyes, while the skin and hair may show normal or near-normal coloration. For individuals that are born with this condition, any vision loss incurred at birth is permanent and does not deteriorate over time. Ocular albinism causes a reduction in the coloring, or pigmentation, of the iris, the colored part of the eye, and the retina, the light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eye.
All pictures are made up of dots, with each dot capturing a different color and brightness level. The pictures in magazines and newspapers, the pictures on TV and on social media, as well as the pictures taken by digital and film cameras are composed of a bunch of dots.
You see more details in a picture that has more dots. The picture on the back of the human eye is also made up of dots, millions and millions of them in fact.
This pattern affects boys and girls differently: girls who get the albinism gene become carriers, while boys who get it will have albinism. When a mother is a carrier of an X-linked type of albinism, each of her daughters has a 1 in 2 chance of becoming a carrier.
Each of her sons has a 1 in 2 chance of having albinism. When a father has an X-linked type of albinism, his daughters will become carriers, and his sons will not have albinism and will not be carriers. If you have a history of albinism in your family or you have a child with the condition, you may want to talk to a GP about getting a referral for genetic counselling.
A genetic counsellor provides information, support and advice about genetic conditions. For example, you can discuss with them how you inherited albinism and the chances of passing it on. Albinism is usually obvious from a baby's appearance when they're born. Your baby's hair, skin and eyes may be examined to look for signs of missing pigment.
As albinism can cause a number of eye problems, your baby may be referred to an eye specialist ophthalmologist for tests. Electrodiagnostic testing is also sometimes used to help diagnose albinism. This is where small electrodes are stuck to the scalp to test the connections of the eyes to the part of the brain that controls vision.
Although there's no cure for the eye problems caused by albinism, there are a number of treatments, such as glasses and contact lenses, that can improve vision. As a child with albinism gets older, they'll need regular eye tests , and it's likely they'll need to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct vision problems. Sunglasses, tinted glasses and wearing a wide-brimmed hat outside can help with sensitivity to light.
There's currently no cure for nystagmus where the eyes move from side to side involuntarily. However, it is not painful and does not get worse.
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