What causes a person to be albino, how common is albinism and how is it managed?
There are two main kinds of albinism, but both affect the eyes of those who have the condition
ALBINISM can affect everyone from humans to animals and even plants.
But what is the condition that gives people a pale appearance, and what causes it?
What is albinism?
Albinism is an inherited genetic condition where people are born without any kind of pigment in their body.
Their body is unable to produce melanin (which gives you colour), and can affect the skin, eyes and hair.
This causes those who are born an albino to have very pale skin, eyes and hair, and the condition can affect all races.
There are two main kinds of albinism, which are oculocutaneous albinism and ocular albinism.
Albinism affects around one person in every 20,000.
What is oculocutaneous albinism?
This kind is where the albinism affects all three possibilities.
It makes hair white and skin very pale.
Lack of or insufficient melanin pigment results in abnormal development of the eyes.
It also causes those who have it to have little to no colour.
Although in some rarer cases some with this kind of albinism it is possibly to have a little colour in any of the three affected areas.
What is ocular albinism?
Ocular albinism only affects the eyes, and not the hair or skin.
While most people with albinism have light blue eyes, in some cases the iris has so little colour that it can look red.
This is due to the blood vessels inside the eye showing through.
What health problems come with albinism?
There aren't very many health issues that comes with having albinism, other than eyesight and skin precautions.
It's rather common for albinos to suffer with eye problems due to them not having enough colour in the iris to shield the retina properly.
This can cause many to need glasses or even have surgery on their eyes to correct any issues, and albinos are more prone to blindness due to their sensitive eyes.
Having a lack of melanin in the skin also makes those with the condition extra sensitive to sunlight, and they burn very easily.
HEALTH Q&As
They should wear a high SPF at all times and should aim to keep themselves covered/shaded from the sun.
Albinism doesn't require any kind of treatment.
Albinos live their lives the same as anyone else and have the same average lifespan.