When a person hears the word albino, the brain immediately thinks of pale hair, pale skin, and pale eyes. However, that is partially true as there are different types of albinism that occur in different regions all over the world. The term albinism was coined by Balthazar Telez. Balthazar Telez was a 17th century historian. Every living thing on Earth has been found to have albinism. That includes every type of fish, bird, mammal, plant, reptile, and amphibian. The oldest irregularity to ever have been record is believed to be albinism.
A mutation in one of several genes is what causes albinism. The types of albinism are based on which gene is mutated. Albinism is classified as a group of inherited disorders due to the fact that it results in a person that is affected to have partial or total loss of pigmentation. It is also …show more content…
That includes nystagmus; a rapid, involuntary movement in a back-and-forth pattern the eyes. Another potential vision problem would be strabismus; which is the inability of both eyes to move in unison or to stay directed at the same point. Some may suffer from extreme farsightedness or nearsightedness. Others may have photophobia; that is extreme sensitivity to light. And others may have astigmatism; abnormal curve of the lens inside your eye that results in blurred vision. This genetic mutation cannot be cured. It is not something you can remove from a person. However, apart from vision problems, most people with albinism do not have health problems. There are skin precautions that should be taken. As people with albinism are extremely prone to sunburn, it is crucial that the person uses a sunscreen with a high SPF number at all times. Also, it is important to wear clothing that offers protection from the sun such as long pants, hats, long-sleeve shirts, and dark-colored clothing. Skin cancer is common in light skinned