eMedicine Specialties > Ophthalmology > Ophthalmology for the General Practitioner

Ocular Manifestations of Albinism: Treatment & Medication

Author: Mohammed O Peracha, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University
Coauthor(s): Frances M Cosgrove, MD, Resident Physician, Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine; Enrique Garcia-Valenzuela, MD, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary; Consulting Staff, Vitreo-Retinal Surgery, Midwest Retina Consultants, SC, Parkside Center; Dean Eliott, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Division of Vitreoretinal Surgery, Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Oct 13, 2008

Treatment

Medical Care

No specific medical treatment is available. Refractive errors should be corrected, and some patients benefit from bifocal lenses. If visual acuity is severely impaired, these patients can be helped with telescopic and other low-vision devices.

Surgical Care

Surgical management in patients with ocular involvement is limited to ocular muscle surgery.

  • Strabismus surgery for esotropia or exotropia can be considered for better ocular alignment.
  • Large 4 muscle horizontal rectus recessions have been reported to improve visual acuity in some patients with nystagmus.
  • If coexistent retinal disease is present and laser photocoagulation is required (eg, for patients with diabetic retinopathy or retinal tears), laser treatment may be ineffective. Laser photocoagulation requires pigment in the retinal pigment epithelial cells for adequate absorption of laser energy. If the pigment is insufficient for adequate absorption of energy, cryopexy may be used as an alternative to treat peripheral retinal lesions. For posterior retinal pathology, the cryopexy probe is not accessible and no alternative treatment is available.

Consultations

Depending on patient presentation and historical or physical findings, appropriate consultations from various subspecialties should be obtained.

  • Hematology
    • For patients with a history of easy bruising and bleeding diathesis (to rule out Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, which is more common in Puerto Ricans)
    • For patients with a history of recurrent infections (to rule out Chediak-Higashi syndrome)
  • Genetics - For additional genetic analysis or for genetic counseling for patients and their families
  • Dermatology - For patients with any skin lesions or any signs suggestive of skin cancer, or for dermatologic counseling (to avoid excessive sun exposure)
  • Low-vision specialist - Patients may benefit from low-vision aids to help with their daily visual activities. 

More on Ocular Manifestations of Albinism

Overview: Ocular Manifestations of Albinism
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Ocular Manifestations of Albinism
Treatment & Medication: Ocular Manifestations of Albinism
Follow-up: Ocular Manifestations of Albinism
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

ocular manifestations of albinism, albinism, ocular albinism, oculocutaneous albinism, melanin, pigmentation abnormality

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Mohammed O Peracha, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Frances M Cosgrove, MD, Resident Physician, Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine
Frances M Cosgrove, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Enrique Garcia-Valenzuela, MD, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary; Consulting Staff, Vitreo-Retinal Surgery, Midwest Retina Consultants, SC, Parkside Center
Enrique Garcia-Valenzuela, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Retina Society, and Society for Neuroscience
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Dean Eliott, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Division of Vitreoretinal Surgery, Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University
Dean Eliott, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Kilbourn Gordon III, MD, FACEP, Urgent Care Physician
Kilbourn Gordon III, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

J James Rowsey, MD, Former Director of Corneal Services, St Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute, Florida
J James Rowsey, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Medical Association, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Florida Medical Association, Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, Sigma Xi, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Lance L Brown, OD, MD, Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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