Clinical findings in patients with ocular albinism

Purpose: To evaluate clinical findings in patients with albinism and to determine the relationship between visual acuity and iris transillumination, macular transparency and foveal hypoplasia. Material and Methods: The records of 23 patients with albinism were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the patients was 23.5 years (20; 5-45). Six of the patients (26.08%) were female and 17 (73.91%) were male. Vision acuity ranged from 0.7 to 3 mps +. According to spherical equivalents, myopia (min: -1.50 D max: -4 D) was detected in 4 eyes. Myopia was above 3 diopters in 2 eyes. Hypermetropia (min: +1 D max: +17 D) was seen in 42 eyes, above 3 diopters in 26 eyes. Mean spherical equivalent was 3.21 ± 5.12 D. Hypermetropia was observed more frequently than myopia. Astigmatism (min: 0.75 D max: 9 D) was detected in 40 of the eye. The mean astigmatic value was 5.99 ± 2.34 D. In 34 eyes (73.9%) astigmatism was 1D or more. Thirty-two eyes had astigmatism in accordance with the rule, while only four eyes had astigmatism contrary to the rule. The vision of 16 patients (69.5%) were corrected with glasses. Visual acuity and iris transillumination were found to be statistically significant correlations between macular transparency and foveal hypoplasia. Conclusion: Albinism patients are often misdiagnosed. Albinism should be kept in mind in all patients with nystagmus and / or low vision. The mechanisms of loss of vision in albinism patients are multifactorial in albinism. Only one of these mechanisms, high refraction defects, should be corrected. Beneficial telescopic eyeglasses should be recommended. Iris transillumination is significantly associated with macular transparency, foveal hypolasia, and visual acuity, and may be helpful in predicting patients' visual prognosis. Key words: Albinism, iris transillumination, macular transparency, foveal hypoplasia, low vision.