Refractive error and emmetropisation in albinism and congenital nystagmus

Purpose: Albinism is an inborn error of melanin metabolism (incidence 1 in 18,000). Oculocutaneous (OCA) and ocular albinism (OA) exhibit similar ocular and visual dysfunction, including high refractive errors and nystagmus. Nystagmus may also occur in isolation with significant effects on the developing visual system. It is presently not clear how albinism impacts on emmetropisation and whether these effects are primarily due to the impact of albinism or nystagmus. The present study aims to examine the refractive profile of individuals with albinism and congenital nystagmus (CN) attending a low vision clinic.Methods: Retrospective data from 148 patients with albinism (n=93) or CN (n=55), attending low vision and refraction clinics at the Royal Group of Hospitals Belfast over a 24 year period (1986-2010), were examined.Results: Results demonstrated a significant difference between the two groups in terms of age at first visit (ANOVA p16 years. Subjects with albinism aged from 12 months to 12 years had significantly higher spherical error, spherical equivalent, most ametropic meridian, cylindrical error and J0 component than those with CN (ANOVA p