Health Topics

Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

You Are Here:
Home →
Genetics →
Oculocutaneous albinism
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/oculocutaneous-albinism/

Oculocutaneous albinism

Description

Oculocutaneous albinism is a group of conditions that affect the color of (pigmentation) of the skin, hair, and eyes. Affected individuals typically have very fair skin and white or light-colored hair. 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. 

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). People with this condition usually have vision problems such as reduced sharpness; rapid, involuntary eye movements (nystagmus); eyes that do not point in the same direction (strabismus); and increased sensitivity to light (photophobia).

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. Oculocutaneous albinism type 1 is characterized by white hair, very pale skin, and light-colored irises. Type 2 is typically less severe than type 1; the skin is usually pale and hair may be light yellow, blond, or light brown. Type 3 causes reddish-brown skin, ginger or red hair, and hazel or brown irises. Type 3 is often associated with milder vision abnormalities than the other forms of oculocutaneous albinism. Type 4 has signs and symptoms similar to those seen in people with type 2.

There are several additional, rare types of oculocutaneous albinism.

Frequency

While the prevalence of oculocutaneous albinism varies by type and country, it is estimated that this condition affects 1 in 4,000 to 7,000 people in African populations and 1 in 12,000 to 15,000 people in European populations. Some isolated communities have higher occurrences of oculocutaneous albinism than their neighboring areas. Prevalence information for other populations is difficult to estimate, but oculocutaneous albinism affects people in all regions of the world.

Causes

Oculocutaneous albinism can result from variants (also known as mutations) in several genes, including TYR, OCA2, TYRP1, and SLC45A2. Variants in the TYR gene cause type 1, variants in the OCA2 gene cause type 2, variants in the TYRP1 gene cause type 3, and variants in the SLC45A2 gene cause type 4. Variants in additional genes likely underlie the other forms of this disorder. The genes associated with oculocutaneous albinism are involved in producing a pigment called melanin, which is the substance that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. In the retina, melanin also plays a role in normal vision. Variants in any of these genes disrupt the ability of cells to make melanin, which reduces pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. A lack of melanin in the retina leads to the vision problems characteristic of oculocutaneous albinism.

Alterations in the MC1R gene can change the appearance of people with oculocutaneous albinism type 2. This gene helps regulate melanin production and is responsible for some normal variation in pigmentation. People with genetic changes in both the OCA2 and MC1R genes have many of the usual features of oculocutaneous albinism type 2, including light-colored eyes and vision problems. However, these individuals typically have red hair instead of the usual yellow, blond, or light brown hair seen in people with this condition.

Some individuals with oculocutaneous albinism do not have variants in any of the known associated genes. In these people, the genetic cause of the condition is unknown.

Learn more about the genes associated with Oculocutaneous albinism

Additional Information from NCBI Gene:

Inheritance

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell must have a variant to cause the disorder. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the altered gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

Other Names for This Condition

  • Albinism, oculocutaneous
  • OCA

Additional Information & Resources

Genetic Testing Information

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

Patient Support and Advocacy Resources

Clinical Trials

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Scientific Articles on PubMed

References

  • Brilliant MH. The mouse p (pink-eyed dilution) and human P genes, oculocutaneous albinism type 2 (OCA2), and melanosomal pH. Pigment Cell Res. 2001 Apr;14(2):86-93. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0749.2001.140203.x. Citation on PubMed
  • Gronskov K, Ek J, Brondum-Nielsen K. Oculocutaneous albinism. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2007 Nov 2;2:43. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-2-43. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Hayashi M, Suzuki T. Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 4. 2005 Nov 17 [updated 2017 Sep 7]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1510/ Citation on PubMed
  • Inagaki K, Suzuki T, Shimizu H, Ishii N, Umezawa Y, Tada J, Kikuchi N, Takata M, Takamori K, Kishibe M, Tanaka M, Miyamura Y, Ito S, Tomita Y. Oculocutaneous albinism type 4 is one of the most common types of albinism in Japan. Am J Hum Genet. 2004 Mar;74(3):466-71. doi: 10.1086/382195. Epub 2004 Feb 11. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Kamaraj B, Purohit R. Mutational analysis of oculocutaneous albinism: a compact review. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:905472. doi: 10.1155/2014/905472. Epub 2014 Jun 29. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Kromberg JGR, Flynn KA, Kerr RA. Determining a Worldwide Prevalence of Oculocutaneous Albinism: A Systematic Review. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023 Jul 3;64(10):14. doi: 10.1167/iovs.64.10.14. Citation on PubMed
  • Montoliu L, Gronskov K, Wei AH, Martinez-Garcia M, Fernandez A, Arveiler B, Morice-Picard F, Riazuddin S, Suzuki T, Ahmed ZM, Rosenberg T, Li W. Increasing the complexity: new genes and new types of albinism. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2014 Jan;27(1):11-8. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.12167. Epub 2013 Oct 17. Citation on PubMed
  • Oetting WS, Fryer JP, Shriram S, King RA. Oculocutaneous albinism type 1: the last 100 years. Pigment Cell Res. 2003 Jun;16(3):307-11. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0749.2003.00045.x. Citation on PubMed
  • Rundshagen U, Zuhlke C, Opitz S, Schwinger E, Kasmann-Kellner B. Mutations in the MATP gene in five German patients affected by oculocutaneous albinism type 4. Hum Mutat. 2004 Feb;23(2):106-110. doi: 10.1002/humu.10311. Citation on PubMed
  • Sarangarajan R, Boissy RE. Tyrp1 and oculocutaneous albinism type 3. Pigment Cell Res. 2001 Dec;14(6):437-44. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0749.2001.140603.x. Citation on PubMed
  • Thomas MG, Zippin J, Brooks BP. Oculocutaneous Albinism and Ocular Albinism Overview. 2023 Apr 13. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK590568/ Citation on PubMed
  • Yi Z, Garrison N, Cohen-Barak O, Karafet TM, King RA, Erickson RP, Hammer MF, Brilliant MH. A 122.5-kilobase deletion of the P gene underlies the high prevalence of oculocutaneous albinism type 2 in the Navajo population. Am J Hum Genet. 2003 Jan;72(1):62-72. doi: 10.1086/345380. Epub 2002 Dec 5. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.