The pattern of ocular features in patients living with albinism in a tertiary eye centre in South-south Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Albinism is a group of inherited genetic disorders of melanin biosynthesis which is characterized by a generalized reduction or absence 1,2 of pigmentation in hair, skin or the eyes. Visual difficulties have been reported to be quite significant 1,6 in people with albinism.

Objective: This study aims to determine the pattern of ocular features patients living with Albinism who present to the eye clinic of a Tertiary eye Centre in South- South Nigeria.

Method: All medical records of all albinism patients who were seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Ophthalmology Out-patient clinic over a five year period were retrieved and data was extracted.

Result: The most common presenting complaint was poor vision, refractive error, nystagmus and iris hypochromia was present in 100% of the patients. Squamous cell carcinoma of the periocular skin was present in 10.4% of the patients.

Conclusion: Albinism is a public health condition with significant ocular problems.