Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Minerva

Ocular albinism

BMJ 2019; 366 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l5304 (Published 19 September 2019) Cite this as: BMJ 2019;366:l5304

Rapid Response:

Re: Ocular albinism

This article is factually incorrect - Ocular albinism is an X-linked condition ie it only effects males, and so the patient described does not have ocular albinism. OA is characterised by nystagmus, iris transillumination, foveal hypoplasia, small grey optic discs and a blond fundus. The image shown depicts a blond fundus, which is common in the caucasian population, and the disc looks normal. It is hard to determine if the fovea is hypoplastic from the image, but this could be demonstrated by an OCT scan which the article doesn't mention. This may just be a normal fundal image from a lightly-pigmented person!

Competing interests: No competing interests

22 September 2019
Jane Ashworth
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
MREH Oxford Road, M13 9PL