May 18, 2023 | The world around us is extremely vivid, filled with colors both stark and stunning. Now imagine what it would be like to be unable to differentiate between some of those colors. What if you couldn’t tell whether that sign was red or green or that car was blue or yellow? Color vision deficiency is the inability to distinguish certain shades of color. The term “color blindness,” which is often used to describe this condition, is something of a misnomer as very few people are unable to see any colors. There are different degrees of color blindness. Some people with mild color deficiencies can see colors normally in good light but have difficulty in dim light. Others cannot distinguish certain colors in any light. Red-green color vision defects are the most common form of color vision deficiency. The most severe form of color blindness, in which everything is seen in shades of gray, is uncommon. Color blindness usually affects both eyes equally and remains stable throughout life.

May 18, 2023 | Color vision deficiency is usually inherited. Men are more likely to be born with poor color vision than women. Most people with poor color vision can’t distinguish between certain shades of red and green. Less commonly, people with poor color vision can’t distinguish between shades of blue and yellow. Certain eye diseases and some medications also can cause poor color vision. You may have poor color vision and not know it. Some people figure out that they or their child has the condition when it causes confusion, such as when there are problems differentiating the colors in a traffic light or interpreting color-coded learning materials. People with color vision deficiency, also known as color blindness, may not be able to distinguish between different shades of red and green, different shades of blue and yellow or any colors. The most common color deficiency is an inability to see some shades of red and green. Such defects can be mild, moderate or severe.

May 18, 2023 | In the retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye, there are two types of cells that detect light, rods and cones. Rods detect only light and dark and are very sensitive to low light levels. Cone cells detect color and are concentrated near the center of your vision. There are three types of cones that see color, red, green and blue. The brain uses input from these three color cone cells to determine our color perception. Most people born with a color vision deficiency have a partial or complete lack of these cones. Color vision problems that occur later in life can result from trauma, toxic effects from drugs, metabolic disease or vascular disease. Color vision defects from disease are less understood than congenital color vision problems. Disease-specific color blindness often affects both eyes differently, and the defect usually gets worse over time. Acquired color vision loss can be the result of damage to the retina or optic nerve.

May 18, 2023 | Color vision deficiency can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. Testing will include the use of a series of specially designed pictures composed of colored dots, called pseudisochromatic plates, which include hidden numbers or embedded figures that can only be correctly seen by persons with normal color vision. Pseudoisoschromatic plate testing can be used to determine if a color vision deficiency exists and the type of deficiency. It is possible for a person to have poor color vision and not know it. Quite often, people with red-green deficiency aren’t even aware of their problem since they’ve learned to see the “right” color. For example, tree leaves are green, so they call the color they see green. Parents may not suspect the condition in their children until a situation causes confusion or misunderstanding. Early detection of color deficiency is vital since many learning materials rely heavily on color perception or color coding.

May 18, 2023 | Unfortunately, there is no cure for color vision deficiency, also known as color blindness. If the condition is caused by an illness or an injury, treating these conditions may improve the patient’s color vision. Using special tinted eyeglasses or wearing a red tinted contact lens on one eye can increase some people’s ability to differentiate between colors, though nothing can make you truly see the deficient color. Most color deficient persons compensate for their inability to distinguish certain colors with color cues and details that are not consciously evident to people with normal color vision. One way is organizing and labeling clothing, furniture or other colored objects, with the help of friends or family, for ease of recognition. Though color vision deficiency can be a frustration and may limit participation in some occupations, in most cases it is not a serious threat to vision and can be adapted to a person’s lifestyle with patience and practice.