ALBINISM
TREATMENTS |
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There is no treatment that can replace
the lack of melanin that causes the symptoms of albinism. Doctors
can only treat, not cure, the eye problems that often accompany the
lack of skin color. Glasses are usually needed and can be tinted to
ease pain from too much sunlight. There is no cure for involuntary
eye movements (nystagmus), and treatments for focusing problems (surgery
or contact lenses) are not effective in all cases.
Crossed eyes (strabismus) can be treated during infancy, using eye
patches, surgery or medicine injections. Treatment may improve the
appearance of the eye, but it can do nothing to cure the underlying
condition.
Patients with albinism should avoid excessive exposure to the sun,
especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If exposure can't be avoided,
they should use UVA-UVB sunblocks with an SPF of at least 20. Taking
beta- carotene may help provide some skin color, although it doesn't
protect against sun exposure. |
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| ALBINISM RELATED ITEMS |
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