Color Vision Deficiency
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Color vision defects can either be congenital or acquired. Congenital color defects are red-green
abnormalities often passed on to a gene on the X-chromosome, affecting 5-8% of males and 0.5% of
females. Acquired defects are often the blue-yellow type.
Very few individuals with color vision defects will confuse pure red with pure green, rather pastel
pinks or yellows with greens. Likewise blue-yellow deficient individuals will tend to confuse pastel
or dark blues and greens. If you have a blue-yellow defect, work-up for the possibility of an acquired
disease should be done.
Presently there is no cure for congenital color vision deficiency. Most individuals do well with their
vision and function normally. A visit to your ophthalmologist will help identify the type of color
vision deficiency and exclude any acquired disease.
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Color Vision Deficiency
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What is color deficiency?
Color Deficiency occurs when your ability to distinguish certain colors and shades is less than
normal. The term “color blind” is often used, but usually incorrectly. Only a small number of people
are completely unable to identify any colors.
What causes color deficiency?
Color Deficiency is usually inherited, but can also result from certain medications. It happens when
the color sensitive cone cells in the retina of your eyes do not properly pick up or send correct color
signals to the brain.
What types of color deficiency exist?
There are two major types. Red-green deficiency is by far the most common and results in the
inability to distinguish certain shades of red and green. Blue-yellow deficiency is less common and
affects the perception of blue and yellow colors. In very rare cases, color deficiency exists to an
extent that no colors can be detected. This person sees all things in shades of black, white and grey.
How is color deficiency detected?
People who are color deficient are often unaware of their condition. They assume that everyone sees
things the way they do. As a result, a complete optometric examination, including a test for color
vision, is recommended. A test for color deficiency is relatively simple and typically involves viewing
a series of colored designs or objects. The designs have been created in such a way that a person
with normal color vision can see certain figures in the design. A color deficient person will not be
able to distinguish the figures.
When should a person be tested for color deficiency?
Every child should be checked for color deficiency by at least age five. It is important to detect color
deficiency early because color coded learning materials are used extensively in the primary grades.
In addition, color deficiency may affect the career path of an individual, since the ability to
distinguish colors is an important aspect of some jobs, such as pilots, electricians, some military
personnel, police officers, and others.
Can color deficiency be cured?
Unfortunately, a cure for color deficiency has not yet been discovered. A person with color
deficiency can, however, be taught to adapt to the inability to distinguish colors. For example, you
can be taught to recognize the brightness and location of a traffic light rather than the color itself. It
is sometimes possible to distinguish colors with the use of special filters. A special red tinted contact
lens, used in one eye, and other devices are used, in some cases, to aid persons with certain color
deficiencies.
Reference:
1. American Optometric Association
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