Symptoms Causes and Cures

Albinism is an inherited condition in which a person lacks the usual amount of the pigment melanin, which is the substance that gives color to skin, hair, and eyes.

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Amelanosis

Hypomelanosis

Hypopigmentation

Melanocytes

Vision

What Is Albinism?

Albinism (AL-bi-niz-im) is a disorder that occurs when a person inherits various genes ^* that are defective in their ability to make the pigment melanin (MEL-a-nin). Melanin is the main substance that determines a person's skin, hair, and eye color. In the United States, albinism affects approximately 1 in 17,000 people.

^* genes are chemicals in the body that help determine a person's characteristics, such as hair or eye color. They are inherited from a person's parents and are contained in the chromosomes found in the cells of the body.

The outward signs of albinism vary depending on the amount of pigment a person has, and many people with albinism have skin much lighter than that of their family members. People with albinism also may have white or pale yellow hair, and light-colored eyes. Sometimes the eyes look pink because they contain no pigment to mask the red of the blood vessels in the retina ^* .

Albinism always affects vision to some degree. The genes that cause albinism also cause abnormal development of the nerve connections between the eyes and the brain. The retina and the iris (the colored portion of the eye) are also affected by albinism.

What Causes Albinism?

Albinism is an inherited condition that can be caused by a number of different genes.

^* retina is the back inner surface of the eyeball that plays a key role in vision. This surface contains millions of light-sensitive cells that change light into nerve signals that the brain can interpret.

^* enzymes (EN-zymz) are natural substances that speed up specific chemical reactions in the body.

Most people with albinism are born to parents without the condition, but both parents must carry a copy of the defective gene and both must pass on that copy to their child. Albinism is a recessive trait,

Many people with albinism have skin and eyes much lighter than that of their family members. People with albinism often have vision problems and must take care to protect their skin from sunburn.

© Joe McDonald/Visuals Unlimited.

meaning that if a person inherits even one good copy of the gene, he or she will not have the condition. Each time parents who both carry the trait have a child, there is a 25 percent chance that the child will have albinism regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl. Ocular albinism is the exception; most cases are caused by a sex-linked genetic defect. This means that the defective gene is carried by the X chromosome ^* , which is one of two chromosomes that determine a person's sex. Sex-linked diseases occur most often in males.

Living with Albinism

Vision problems and protecting the skin are the biggest health problems for people with albinism. The lack of pigment makes eyes and skin very sensitive to sunlight and the skin prone to burning. Vision problems vary from person to person. Some people simply need glasses to correct their vision, but others need surgery. Some people can see well enough to drive a car, whereas others are legally blind. All people with albinism need consistent and continuing eye care.

People with albinism also face social and emotional hurdles as they learn to live with being different. Emotional support from family and friends is essential to building self-esteem in a child with albinism.

^* chromosomes (KRO-mo-somz) are threadlike structures inside cells on which the genes are located.

Albinism and the Eyes

Vision is always affected by albinism. Vision problems that can affect people with albinism include:

sensitivity to bright light

crossed eyes or "lazy" eyes

back-and-forth movement of the eyes

farsightedness

nearsightedness

blurry vision