Developed by Norma All forms of albinism are Common treatments Maddox associated with vision Ophthalmologists and problems optometrists can help people Children with albinism have with albinism compensate for decreased visual acuity. Their their eye problems, but they vision problems result from cannot cure them. abnormal development of the Function: Most children with retina and abnormal patterns albinism are able to function in of nerve connections between a mainstreamed classroom. the eye and the brain. Eye They often prefer to read with What is Albinism? problems often include: a head tilt and usually hold the Nystagmus, Strabismus, Albinism is a defect of melanin page close to the eyes. Photophobia, Foveal production that results in little Classroom aids may include: hypoplasia, optic nerve or no color (pigment) in the high contrast written material, misrouting. Children may be skin, hair, and eyes. People large print textbooks, and near sighted or far sighted and with albinism have inherited copies of teacher’s board they usually have astigmatism. altered genes that do not make notes, optic devices and Also their iris can not screen the usual amounts of pigment computers. out stray light coming into the called melanin. It is a common eye. Sources: myth that people with albinism always have red eyes. They 1. http://albinism.med.umn.edu/fa cts.htm#fovea may have reddish, or violet eyes, but most have blue eyes. 2. http://www.albinism.org/public Some have hazel or brown ations/what_is_albinism.html eyes. 3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlin eplus/ency/article/001479.htm The two main categories 4. Ophthalmology Made of albinism : Ridiculously Simple, Stephen Goldberg, MD, 2001 Miani: FL “oculocutaneous albinism” or pg49 “OCA” means that melanin 5. Dictionary of Eye Terminology 5th Ed., Barbara Cassin and pigment is missing in the skin, Melin L. Rubin, MD, Editor, the hair, and the eyes. “Ocular 2006. Gainesville: FL, pg 27. albinism” or “OA” indicates that pigment is missing mainly in the eyes, and the skin and hair appear normal. Approximately 1 in 17,000 people have one of the types of albinism.