How does the sun affect the eyes of people with albinism?
People with albinism have a decrease in the amount of melanin in their eyes. In a “normal” eye, melanin serves to absorb sunlight. Imagine being in the dark, then having a bright light suddenly turned on in your face. The discomfort felt for those few seconds before your eyes have adjusted is what it feels like when people with albinism are in bright light — except that their eyes don’t adjust. In addition, chronic exposure to sunlight increases the risk of cataracts in people with albinism.
