They have inherited genes that do not make the usual amounts of a pigment called melanin. One person in 17,000 has some type of albinism. Albinism affects people from all races. Most children with albinism are born to parents who have normal hair and eye color for their ethnic backgrounds. There are two major catagories of albinism.
Ocular albinism involves primarily the eye.
People with ocular albinism may have slight lightening of hair and skin colors as well, compared to other family members. At present researchers have defined 10 different types of oculocutaneous albinism, and five types of ocular albinism, on the basis of their appearance by clinical examination. Newer laboratory research studying DNA has shown that there are numerous types of changes in the genes of those with albinism, including within families. Therefore, it is likely that the current system for naming types of albinism will change as research progresses. Persons with ty-neg albinism have no melanin pigmentation, and more difficulty with vision.