Affected individuals have reddish-brown skin, ginger or red hair, and hazel or brown irises. Type 3 includes a form of albinism called rufous oculocutaneous albinism, which usually affects dark-skinned people. Type 2 is typically less severe than type 1 the skin is usually a creamy white color and hair may be light yellow, blond, or light brown. Oculocutaneous albinism type 1 is characterized by white hair, very pale skin, and light-colored irises. Researchers have identified multiple types of oculocutaneous albinism, which are distinguished by their specific skin, hair, and eye color changes and by their genetic cause.
People with this condition usually have vision problems such as reduced sharpness rapid, involuntary eye movements (nystagmus) and increased sensitivity to light (photophobia). Oculocutaneous albinism also reduces pigmentation of the colored part of the eye (the iris) and the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (the retina). Long-term sun exposure greatly increases the risk of skin damage and skin cancers, including an aggressive form of skin cancer called melanoma, in people with this condition. Affected individuals typically have very fair skin and white or light-colored hair. Oculocutaneous albinism is a group of conditions that affect coloring (pigmentation) of the skin, hair, and eyes.
