Question

Do Human Albinos have red eyes?

Answer 1

Hint: Albinism is recessive, autosomal disorder caused by the absence of the enzyme tyrosinase which is essential for the synthesis of melanin pigment from dihydroxyphenylalanine. The gene for albinism is represented as (a) and it does not produce the enzyme tyrosinase but its normal allele (A) does. Thus, a homozygous recessive individual (aa) is only affected by albinism. Individuals suffering from albinism lack dark pigment melanin in the skin, hairs and eyes. Albinos have poor vision though but they lead a normal life.

Complete answer:
Albinism also affects a person's eyes and when it does, it’s called ocular albinism. Ocular albinism is a rare condition that happens much more often in boys and men than in girls or women. A person suffering from this condition looks different and acts differently. He/she might need to wear special glasses or contact lenses. But the person with albinism does not lose their eyesight completely and it also does not get worse over time.
1. Causes of ocular albinism: People who have this disease are born with it and in most of the cases it happens because of a problem with a gene they inherit from their mothers. Women carry this gene but they don’t usually have its symptoms. The most common type is called type \[1\] or Nettleship-Falls, is male. About \[1\] in \[60,000\] males are affected with this. The other type of ocular albinism is much less common. Both the parents carry the gene for it, and both boys and girls can be born with it. If both parents have this gene, there is a possibility that \[1\] in \[4\] of the child will have it.
2. Symptoms of ocular albinism: This affects the retina and the nerves behind the eyes. Things look blurry because the retina doesn’t develop the way it should. It can not male a sharp image and the nerves behind the eyes cannot transmit a clear image to the brain. Most of the people suffering from ocular albinism have blue eyes but the blood vessels inside can show through the colored part (the iris), and the eyes can look pink or red. Other symptoms include, quick eye movements that can’t be controlled, sensitivity to bright lights or sunlight, problems with depth perception, eyes looking in different directions, crossed eye or a lazy eye.

Note:
The fact is, as children who have albinism get older, their eyesight may get better. People suffering from ocular albinism don’t have the paler skin or hair seen in other kinds of albinism. Albinism in plants causes loss of chlorophyll pigments and also the incomplete differentiation of chloroplast membrane. Plants suffering from albinism have trouble with photosynthesis, which also makes them less able to survive.