Living With Albinism

“Whether I fill in a form requesting information about my race, I always mark ‘Black,’ “says John “even though I’m whiter than most who check ‘white,’ “John, a West African living near the border between Benin and Nigeria, has albinism-a genetic disorder in which one’s eyes, skin, or hair (in some cases one’s eyes alone) have little or no pigmentation. What are the type of albinism we have? How widespread is albinism? How does it affect individual’s daily life? What can help those with albinism to live with their condition?
While albinism is most perceptible among dark-skinned people, races, and peoples. It is estimated that albinism affects 1 out of every 20,000 persons.

Some Types Of Albinism.
The main categories of albinism include the following:
• Occulocutaneous albinism: The pigment melanin is missing from the skin, the hair, and the eyes. There are about 20 variants of this type.
• Ocular albinism: Its effects are limited to the eyes and hairs usually appear normal.

There are many other forms of albinism that are well-known. For instance, one type is associated with Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS). Those with HPS have a tendency to bruise or bleed easily. There is a high concentration of this type of albinism in the Puerto Rican population, where the frequency to be 1 to 1800 of the population.

Effects On Skin and Eyes.
For most light-skinned people, wild exposure to the sun results in a tan when a pigment called melanin is produced to protect the skin. Without pigment, an albino’s skin is easily sunburned. Sunburn in itself is an unpleasant and painful condition. However, albinos who do not sufficiently protect their skin also risk developing skin cancer. This is especially so in tropical areas.
Albinism can also affect the eyes in the variety of ways. Pigment in the iris normally screens sunlight entering the eye, other than through the pupil. However, an albino’s iris is nearly translucent, which allows stray light to pass through it and cause irritation.
Through commonly thought that people with albinism have reddish eyes, but this is a misconception. Most albinos have irises tinted either dull gray, brown, or blue. This reddish reflection comes from retina. This effect might be compared with red-eye, the reflection in the eyes that sometimes appears in photographs taken with a flash. In many countries, therapy is either not available or very expensive.

SOCIAL CHALLENGES.
Most people living with albinism learn how to live with their physical limitations. Many, however, find it difficult to endure the social stigmatization that comes with the condition. This can be especially challenging for children.
In some parts of West Africa, children with albinism are jeered or mocked with racist expressions. This can easily lead to feelings of rejection and uselessness.

THE END OF ALBINISM
In recent years, much has changed in the treatment of albinism. Medical science is able to provide more assistance than ever before. Self-help groups offer a forum for exchange experiences and improving understanding of the condition. The ultimate solution however, rest not with man but with his or her creator (God).