Posters

Refractive profile of children with oculocutanous albinism vs an age-matched non-albino group

Poster Details

First Author: A.Gad EGYPT

Co Author(s):    K. Muhamed                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to find out and analyse the points of differences in the refractive profile between children with complete oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) and an age-matched non-albino group.

Setting:

Prospective study in Sohag faculty of medicine.

Methods:

This prospective study was conducted on 164 infants and young children. We divided the study population into 2 equal groups (children with OCA (albino group; 82 eyes), and a non-albino group; 82 eyes). Cycloplegic refraction and average keratometric measurements using the hand-held autokeratometer (Nidek Co. Ltd., Hiroishi, Japan) were done for the study groups in Paediatric Ophthalmology Center, Sohag City, Egypt.

Results:

In the albino group; there was a significantly higher percentage of males (P=0.0185), astigmatism and hypermetropia were the most common refractive errors (100%) and (62%) respectively with significant difference between both groups. Mean total (TA), corneal (CA) and lenticular astigmatism (LA) were significantly higher in the albino group (P<0.05). All albino eyes were high astigmats (≥1.25).

Conclusions:

This study is novel in being prospective and comparative. It includes the largest sample size ever reported for albino eyes. High WTR astigmatism is the most common refractive error in albinos with an overall bias toward hyperopia, but extreme degrees of refractive errors (>-11.00D myopia or >+10.00D hyperopia) are not common. Albino eyes have a significantly higher degrees of LA  which compensates for the high CA to decrease the amount of TA. We emphasise the importance of refraction examination and visual rehabilitation for OCA children as early as possible to reduce eye morbidity-associated low vision.

Financial Disclosure:

None