Does Your Child Have Albinism? Ways An Optometrist Can Help
Albinism is the absence of or decrease in melanin, which is the protection that is necessary for pigmentation. This disease typically affects the hair, skin, and eyes. If your child has this problem, you can take steps to help make their eyes more comfortable and take good care of their vision.
Eye Sensitivity
Many children with albinism have eyes that are sensitive to the sun and bright lights. Pigment found in the eyes of someone without this problem absorbs light to help tolerate bright light. Someone with albinism has a lack of pigment, which makes him or her very sensitive to light, also called photosensitivity. An optometrist can apply special filters and tints to lenses to block out the levels of light.
Lazy Eye
Some children with albinism have lazy eye, which is when the eyes turn out or cross. For this problem, there are glasses with prisms that can help each eye look or point in the same direction. These glasses bend the light your child sees, which then redirects it to the right direction as it enters the misaligned eyes.
Close Up Reading
Your child may have presbyopia, which is when they cannot see close up, such as while reading. As this can make it very hard for them in school, the optometrist may suggest spectacle magnifiers. These are glasses that are specially designed for this problem. In the past, lenses in these types of glasses were very thick, but with today's technology, they are now thin, so your child's glasses will look normal.
The doctor may also recommend bifocals for your child to help reduce eyestrain while they are reading. When your child sees the doctor, they will perform a refraction test to measure how well your child can see from this distance. This allows them to give your child the best type of glasses to help with this problem.
Driving
When your child gets old enough to start driving, the optometrist may suggest using a bioptic telescopic system. This will allow your child to see lights and signs while they are driving. These glasses also magnify things to allow your child to see at a longer distance. They attach to your child's glasses so they can take them off when they finish driving.
Small babies may not show any outward signs of albinism. One thing they may not be able to do is to track things with their eyes. If you notice your baby having a problem doing this, take them to their pediatrician, who may send them to an optometrist to be evaluated.
For more information about the various eye issues that can present with albinism, contact professionals such as EyeCare About Vegas: Dr. R Dougal Morrison & Dr. Christopher Coker.