Ps: not everyone with albinism has white/platinum hair and blue/violet/red eyes. Some types only affect the eyes and other affect the skin and hair in addition to the eyes.

There’s 7 types of oca (the type that affects the hair skin and eyes) and some types can’t produce melanin while others can. Eye colours can can range from blue, grey, green, hazel and even light brown. Hair can also range from white to light brown or even red.

Melanin plays a key role in eye development so a lot of us are blind/vi/low vision. How it affects your eyes can very from person to person so some people aren’t affected while others are blind.

It can also cause other eye conditions aside from just refractive error like nystagmus (involuntary shaking of eyes), strabismus (misalignment of eyes), astigmatisms, photophobia (light sensitivity), optic nerve misrouting and foveal hypoplasia.

Additionally, because of the inability to produce melanin/issues with melanin synthesis, we’re at greater risk for skin cancer and tend to burn more easily. Some of us can produce some melanin and actually tan however we’re still at increased risk.

OCA can also be a part of certain syndromes like Hermansky Pudlak syndrome which also comes with platelet issues and abnormal storage of ceroid lipofuscin. There’s also Chediak Higashi syndrome which also causes immune deficiency, bleeding issues and neurological issues.

Another important thing to keep in mind that unlike the rest of the disability and neurodivergent community, we prefer person first language (ex. person with albinism instead of albino) due to the stigma, fetishization and violence we face.