Albinism and eyesight

Types of eyesight difficulties

People with albinism are much more likely to have difficulties with their vision. There are various ways that albinism can affect your child's vision such as:

Difficulties reading text that is far away - Many people with albinism can read small print when it's close to their eyes. They may find it harder to share books with classmates as the text will be too far away. They may take more time when reading.

Involuntary movement in their eyes, also known as nystagmus - The movement is usually side-to-side but their eyes can also move up-and-down or in a circle.

Poor depth perception - This affects how your child will be able to see 3D objects and know how far away they are from them. This can make your child more clumsy. They will need to take extra care when using stairs or walking across uneven surfaces. 

Sensitivity to light - It is very common for people with albinism to be sensitive to light. This can make getting around more difficult, especially in busy or unfamiliar environments. 

Vision loss - Many people with albinism are eligible to register as partially sighted or blind.

Helping your child at home

There are various ways you can help your child:

Check if your child needs glasses - Glasses will help your child to see better and help them when they read. Your child's vision will still be reduced but glasses can help. Read more about glasses.

Try wearing sunglasses or tinted glasses outside - The bright light can cause some problems. 

Use larger fonts and visual aids - Your child may find it easier to use larger fonts or a visual aid like a magnifier. They may also need more time to do tasks as they may struggle to see small fonts. When using a computer, you can change the size of the font and brightness of the screen.

Help from professionals

Your child may be referred to the Sensory and Impairment Communication Difficulties (SICD) Team at your local authority. A Visual Impairment (VI) Teacher will visit your child at home or school depending on their age. 

As albinism is passed down through families, it is an inherited condition. If you are concerned about the probability of having another child with albinism, clinical geneticist can be consulted. They can also offer counselling if needed to:

• parents following the genetic testing
• children through the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)