CME Article

Change in Visual Acuity in Albinism in the Early School Years

Johanna M. Dijkstal, BA; San-San Cooley, BS; Ann M. Holleschau, BA; Richard A. King, MD, PhD; C. Gail Summers, MD

  • Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  • March/April 2012 - Volume 49 · Issue 2: 81-86
  • DOI: 10.3928/01913913-20110628-02
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Abstract

Purpose:

To determine whether binocular best-corrected visual acuity (B-BCVA) improves in the early school years in patients with albinism and whether this is related to type of albinism, ocular pigment, or appearance of the macula.

Methods:

Patients with albinism seen between 5.5 and 9 years (Visit A) and 9.5 and 14 years of age (Visit B), with visits separated by at least 2.5 years, were included. Type of albinism, B-BCVA, glasses wear, iris pigment and macular transparency grade, and presence or absence of an annular reflex and melanin in the macula were recorded.

Results:

Mean B-BCVA was 20/84 at Visit A and 20/61 at Visit B (P < .001). B-BCVA improved in 80%. Improvement in B-BCVA and glasses wear, iris grade, macular grade, macular melanin, and annular reflex were weakly correlated. However, a moderate correlation was found between measured B-BCVA and iris grade at Visit A (r = 0.485, P < .001) and Visit B (r = 0.467, P < .001), and the presence of macular melanin at Visit A (r = 0.436, P < .001) and Visit B (r = 0.482, P < .001).

Conclusions:

B-BCVA often improves in albinism in the early school years and this observation should be included in counseling. The etiology is unknown but may be related to change in nystagmus, use of precise null point, developmental maturation, and/or some of the ocular characteristics evaluated in this study.

AUTHORS

From the Departments of Ophthalmology (JMD, S-SC, AH, RAK, CGS), Pediatrics (RAK, CGS), Medicine (RAK), and the Institute of Human Genetics (RAK), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Presented as a poster at the American Society of Human Genetics Conference, November 2–6, 2010, Washington, DC.

Supported by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., New York, New York.

The authors have no financial or proprietary interest in the materials presented herein.

Address correspondence to C. Gail Summers, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Mayo Mail Code 493, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. E-mail: summe001@umn.edu

doi: 10.3928/01913913-20110628-02

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