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 of pigmentation in hair, skin or the eyes.1,2 Visual difficulties have been reported to be quite significant in people with albinism.1,6
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.