Albinism’s Non-ocular Conditions

In addition to the impact that albinism has on vision, individuals with albinism should be aware of other non-ocular concerns related to albinism:

  1. Skin: People with albinism lack sufficient amounts of melanin, the chemical which also protects your skin from the sun. As a result, they are prone to sunburn and skin cancer. In areas of the world where proper sunscreen is not available, there is an 80% fatality rate. In the United States, people with OA and OCA albinism have a normal life span. In the developed world, many skin cancers are prevented by using proper sunscreen and protective clothing. People with albinism do not need to stay inside or sit in the dark. With proper protection, they can participate in most activities, including a trip to the beach.
  2. There are other medical problems associated with HPS, Chediak-Higashi Syndrome and Griscelli Syndrome as described in the ‘Genetics and Types of Albinism‘ section of this website.

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  • Useful Links for Albinism: General Medical Information About Albinism International Albinism Center Wikipedia's Albinism Page Albinism's Eye Conditions eMedicine Albinism Information Kid's Health Skin Cancer Information Medical Information About Albinism Sub-Types Griscelli Syndrome Information Chediak-Hagashi Information HPS Information OCA1a OCA 1b OCA2 OCA4 HPS Other Albinism-Related Groups Albinism Through the Eyes...