Albinism
Courtney Lombardo
What is Albinism?
Albinism occurs when one of several genetic defects makes the body unable to produce or distribute melanin, a natural substance that gives color to your hair, skin, and iris of the eye.
There are two main types of albinism:
Type 1 albinism is caused by defects that affect production of the pigment, melanin.
Type 2 albinism is due to a defect in the "P" gene. People with this type have slight coloring at birth.
How do you get it?
Signs and Symptoms
A person with albinism will have one of the following symptoms:
Absence of color in the hair, skin, or iris of the eye
Lighter than normal skin and hair
Patchy, missing skin color
Many forms of albinism are associated with the following symptoms:
Crossed eyes (strabismus)
Light sensitivity (photophobia)
Rapid eye movements (nystagmus)
Vision problems, or functional blindness
Signs of Albanism:
Fair skin
Blonde/white hair
Reddish eyes
Treatment
Treatment involves protecting the skin and eyes from the sun:
Reduce sunburn risk by avoiding the sun, using sunscreen, and covering up completely with clothing when exposed to the sun.
Sunscreen should have a high sun protection factor (SPF).
Sunglasses (UV protected) may relieve light sensitivity.
Glasses are often prescribed to correct vision problems and eye position. Eye muscle surgery is sometimes recommended to correct abnormal eye movements (nystagmus).
Other Helpful Websites
National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation -- www.albinism.org
International Albinism Center -- http://albinismdb.med.umn.edu
Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network -- www.hpsnetwork.org