Albinism and Lasik

Albinism itself will normally not exclude a patient from conventional or custom wavefront Lasik, All-Laser Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, RLE, P-IOLs or other refractive surgery procedures, however many albinos are affected by nystagmus. It would be an absolute requirement that any laser used would have a tracking system that could adjust to the rapid eye movements of a patient with nystagmus.

Most lasers currently being manufactured for use in the United States use a method of eye tracking that should reduce or eliminate problems related to nystagmus.

If you are ready to choose a doctor to be evaluated for conventional or custom wavefront Lasik, All-Laser Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, NearVision CK, RLE, or any refractive surgery procedure, we highly recommend you consider a doctor who has been evaluated and certified by the USAEyes nonprofit organization. Locate a USAEyes Evaluated & Certified Lasik Laser Eye Surgeon.

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Current Albinism Medical Journal News...

Identification of a novel deletion in the OA1 gene: report of the first Spanish family with X-linked ocular albinism.

Related Articles

Identification of a novel deletion in the OA1 gene: report of the first Spanish family with X-linked ocular albinism.

Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2010 Jul;38(5):489-95

Authors: Martinez-Garcia M, Riveiro-Alvarez R, Villaverde-Montero C, Cantalapiedra D, Garcia-Sandoval B, Ayuso C, Trujillo-Tiebas MJ

Background: This study was undertaken to analyse the OA1 gene (GPR143) and its involvement in a Spanish family presenting with nystagmus, a common symptom of X-linked ocular albinism (XLOA). Methods: DNA samples from the index case and eight relatives were analysed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). Sequence analysis and restriction assay were used to confirm the results. In addition, an analysis of a STR located in intron 1 of the OA1 gene (OA-CA) was performed. Results: The father of the proband presented with nystagmus, a feature consistent with XLOA. Mutation screening by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and sequence analysis of the exon 2 of the OA1 gene led to the identification of the novel p.Glu129fsX35 (g.5815delA) mutation in two affected males and four carrier females. Three relatives were found to be non-mutated. The deletion detected resulted in a truncated protein 35 codons downstream and generated a new restriction site for the XcmI endonuclease. Additionally, microsatellite analysis showed co-segregation with the disease in the family. Conclusions: A novel deletion in the OA1 gene was identified in a Spanish family with ocular albinism. The mutation detected is likely a loss-of-function alteration. To the best of our knowledge, we describe the first Spanish family known to present with XLOA due to mutations in the OA1 gene.

PMID: 20649618 [PubMed - in process]