Change in visual acuity in albinism in the early school years.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To determine whether binocular best-corrected visual acuity (B-BCVA) improves in the early school years in patients with albinism and whether this is related to type of albinism, ocular pigment, or appearance of the macula.

METHODS:

Patients with albinism seen between 5.5 and 9 years (Visit A) and 9.5 and 14 years of age (Visit B), with visits separated by at least 2.5 years, were included. Type of albinism, B-BCVA, glasses wear, iris pigment and macular transparency grade, and presence or absence of an annular reflex and melanin in the macula were recorded.

RESULTS:

Mean B-BCVA was 20/84 at Visit A and 20/61 at Visit B (P < .001). B-BCVA improved in 80%. Improvement in B-BCVA and glasses wear, iris grade, macular grade, macular melanin, and annular reflex were weakly correlated. However, a moderate correlation was found between measured B-BCVA and iris grade at Visit A (r = 0.485, P < .001) and Visit B (r = 0.467, P < .001), and the presence of macular melanin at Visit A (r = 0.436, P < .001) and Visit B (r = 0.482, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

B-BCVA often improves in albinism in the early school years and this observation should be included in counseling. The etiology is unknown but may be related to change in nystagmus, use of precise null point, developmental maturation, and/or some of the ocular characteristics evaluated in this study.

• Authors: Johanna M Dijkstal, San-San Cooley, Ann M Holleschau, Richard A King, C Gail Summers
• Journal: Journal of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus (J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus) 2012 Mar-Apr Vol. 49 Issue 2 Pg. 81-6; quiz 87 ISSN: 1938-2405 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21732575 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2012, SLACK Incorporated.

Chemical References

• Melanins

Topics

• Adolescent
• Albinism, Ocular (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Albinism, Oculocutaneous (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Electroretinography
• Evoked Potentials, Visual
• Female
• Hermanski-Pudlak Syndrome (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Melanins (metabolism)
• Retina (metabolism)
• Vision, Binocular (physiology)
• Visual Acuity (physiology)