FAQ - Albinism
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My son is albino 4 years old due to albinism eye sight weak and constant left right eyes movement is any cure?


My son is albino having two problems in eyes 1. week eye sight 2. constant movement in eyes movement directions is left and right due to above having difficulty in education is there any cure for this in medical science?
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Albinism (officially called oculocutaneous albinism) is an inherited defect in melanin formation that causes diffuse hypopigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyes; deficiency of melanin (and hence pigmentary dilution) may be total or partial, but all areas of the skin are involved. Ocular involvement produces strabismus, nystagmus, and decreased vision. Diagnosis is usually obvious from the skin, but ocular evaluation is necessary. No treatment for the skin involvement is available other than protection from sunlight.  (+ info)

Do some people with albinism have pink/red iris color in their eyes?


I've tried looking up images and facts on google, but didn't find much. A couple pics had red eyes, but I couldn't tell if they were fake or not. Thank you very much.
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If someone is albino they won't have a pigmentation in their iris's which will make them look red because you are seeing their veins/blood.  (+ info)

Is Albinism a genetic or disorder or a chromasomal abnormality?


Your DNA is made of chromosomes. Therefore, "genetic" and "chromosomal" are the same thing.


Albinism is a congenital, or genetically linked, disorder.  (+ info)

Anyone have a child with occular albinism?


I found out yesterday that my son has something called occular albinism. It is the same thing as an albino person, how they have no color pigment in there skin or hair, only this is only in his eyes.

My dad has this also, although I didnt know the name of it, and didnt know my son had the same thing. My sons eyes wander back and forth alot, and he cant focus and is light sensitive. My dads also shake but way less then my sons. This is inherited. The outside of the eyes are blue, but the inner part of the eye is pigmentless. It could get better, or worse.

My question is, does anyone have a child like this and if so, what kind of difficultys did you find they have/had as a child? Do you have more then one child with it if you have more then one child? Did it get better? And anything else you can tell me about your experience would be greatly appriciated!
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Ocular albinism is a heriditary condition, X linked, meaning that the gene is usually not expressed in the female. Affected fathers pass it on to their daughters who, in turn, pass it on to their sons. Statistically only half the daughters will be carriers and only 50% of the sons of carrier mothers will express the condition.

Almost all affected males have the wandering eyes you describe. This is called nystagmus, and is due to a poorly developed fovea, the part of the retina responsible for our most acute central vision.

There are other types of ocular albinism, but I think the X-linked form describes your father and son best.

Although your son is not blind, he may be elegible for assistance through his school district or through organizations that help the visually impaired. A social worker may assist you in finding aid.  (+ info)

What is the life expectancy of someone with albinism?


In the United States, most people with albinism live normal life spans and have the same types of general medical problems as the rest of the population. The lives of people with Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome can be shortened by lung disease or other problems. Other conditions include Chediak-Higashi and Griscelli Syndrome.

I copied pasted this from the website albinism.org  (+ info)

How possible is it that a cure will be found for albinism?


Albinism isn't a disease. It's just a lack of pigmentation. I suppose it's possible that someday someone will figure out how to get albino cells to produce pigments, but that would still leave the other effects like poor eyesight... I think it's highly unlikely.  (+ info)

How does a person having albinism affect the rest of the family?


answers please thankyou
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Dear Asker!

Albinism, a group of inherited disorders, results in little or no production of the pigment melanin. The type and amount of melanin your body produces determines the color of your skin, hair and eyes. Melanin also plays a role in the development of certain optical nerves.

Most types of albinism result in hypopigmentation — either no pigment in your skin, hair and eyes, or lighter pigmentation than would be expected for someone in your family. Because one function of melanin is to absorb ultraviolet light, most people with albinism are sensitive to sun exposure and are at risk of developing skin cancer.

All forms of albinism cause problems with the development and function of your eyes. People with albinism have poor vision that can't be completely corrected with prescription eyewear.

Albinism is present at birth, although some types of the disorder may not be easily identified in infants. Although there's no cure for albinism, people with the disorder can take steps to improve vision and avoid too much sun exposure. Albinism doesn't limit intellectual development or educational potential. Unfortunately, people with albinism often feel socially isolated and experience ridicule or discrimination.

The reactions of other people to those with albinism can often have a negative impact on people with the condition:

Children with albinism often experience name-calling, teasing or embarrassing questions regarding their appearance, eyewear or visual aid devices.
Many people with albinism find the word "albino" hurtful, because they're being labeled simply on the basis of a condition rather than being thought of as individuals.
A long history of myths has attributed supernatural powers or deviant personalities to people with albinism. Even modern movies may depict the "albino" as the "bad guy."
People with albinism usually look very different from members of their own family or ethnic group and, therefore, may either feel like outsiders or be treated like outsiders.
All of these factors may contribute to social isolation, poor self-esteem and stress.

Coping skills
Coping with vision impairment
Many people with albinism develop their own coping skills to adjust to vision impairments. Tilting the head to one side can minimize the effect of nystagmus and improve vision. Holding a book very close can make it easier to see without causing any harm to the eyes. As a parent, don't discourage the use of these strategies.

Coping with educational challenges
If your child has albinism, begin early to work with teachers, special education instructors and school administrators. Start with educating the school professionals about what albinism is and how it affects your child. Also inquire about services the school can provide to assess your child's needs and meet them in the classroom.

Adjustments to the classroom environment that may help your child include:

A seat near the front of the classroom
Handouts of the content written on boards or overhead screens
High-contrast printed documents, such as black type on white paper rather than colored print or paper
Large-print textbooks
Coping with teasing and social isolation
Help your child develop skills to deal with other people's reactions to albinism:

Encourage your child to talk to you about his or her experiences or feelings.
Practice responses to teasing or embarrassing questions.
Find a peer support group or online community through agencies such as the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation.
Seek the services of a psychotherapist who can help you and your child develop healthy communication and coping skills.

Hope that may help you!
Good luck!  (+ info)

What do you think about people with Albinism?


This is an opinion question so you are free to say what you feel but please try not to be ignorant.
I personally love the way it looks (I am not though) but i hear many people are freaked out by them.
Please tell me what you think
I am not talking about them in a personality or generilizin ghtem in any way. I was more talking about there apperance as in the white hair pale skin...It is like saying do you like blonde hair or do you like green eyes?
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They're just really white, what's the big deal? Want the same look? Lock your self in a completely dark room for a couple of years and your skin will lose a little pigment too.

I would say for them it probably really sucks since they usually have very poor eye sight and very VERY prone to sun damage, not to mention probably growing up with the 'get a tan you freaking ghost' remarks.  (+ info)

how likely is it to have two children affected by albinism if me and my partner arnt affected?


i have got one child that is affected by the condition e is now 2 and i am expecting again thanx for any info peeps
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Each child will have a 1/4 chance of getting it.  (+ info)

Can albinism be detected before birth?How can you detect albinism before birth?


answers please
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In the early 2000s, a blood test has been developed that can identify carriers of the gene for some types of albinism; a similar test during amniocentesis can diagnose some types of albinism in an unborn child. A chorionic villus sampling test during the fifth week of pregnancy may also reveal some types of albinism.
There are also two tests available that can identify two types of the condition. The hairbulb pigmentation test is used to identify carriers by incubating a piece of the person's hair in a solution of tyrosine, a substance in food which the body uses to make melanin. If the hair turns dark, it means the hair is making melanin (a positive test); light hair means there is no melanin. This test is the source of the names of two types of albinism: "typos" and "ty-neg."
The tyrosinase test is more precise than the hair-bulb pigmentation test. It measures the rate at which hair converts the amino acid tyrosine into another chemical (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, or DOPA), which is then made into pigment. The hair converts tyrosine with the help of an enzyme called tyrosinase. In some types of albinism, a genetic defect in tyrosinase means that the amino acid tyrosine cannot be converted by tyrosinase into melanin.  (+ info)

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