Color blindness is a condition in which a person is unable to distinguish between certain colors. It is also known as color vision deficiency. Color blindness can hamper daily activities. Various activities such as watching traffic signals, selecting clothes, purchasing fruits become more challenging with color blindness. The problems associated with this condition are not very severe, and most people are able to adapt to it easily. However, people who have total color blindness have decreased vision and may feel uncomfortable in bright environment When a person has color blindness, he/she may not be able to differentiate between various colors like green and red or yellow and blue. The affected person is more likely to get confused with red and green color and hence it is the most common form of color deficiency. Blue and yellow color deficiency is rare, and it equally affects men and women. The term color blindness is not correct. This is because when we talk about color blindness we are referring to color vision deficiency and not exactly color blindness. Color vision deficiency is a more appropriate term, but color blindness is more convenient, hence it is commonly used.
Color blindness is more common in men than in women. This is because men, unlike women, have only one X chromosome. The muted or altered gene responsible for color vision deficiency is present on the X chromosome. Women with a muted X chromosome does not suffer from the disease because the second X chromosome in them is normal.
Red-green color blindness can’t be passed on to sons from father. There are many people suffering from complete color blindness known as achromatopsia or rod monochromacy. If a woman is color blind with red-green color deficiency, all her sons will be colorblind. 99% of people with color blindness have red-green color blindness.
People with normal vision can differentiate between more than 100 different hues while with color blindness the number comes down to 20. Colored lenses and glasses can help discriminate colors, but it cannot provide normal color vision. Based on severity, color blindness can be divided into four categories: Slight, moderate, strong, absolute.
Daltonism is a form of color blindness in which a person is not able to distinguish between certain colors, especially red and green. This name is kept after the scientist John Dalton.
As per the Prevent Blindness America, around 8% of males are affected by the condition and less than 1% of females have vision problems related to color blindness. Around 0.5% of women have color blindness.
1. Red-Green Color Blind: It is the most common type of the condition: It is further divided as:
3. Blue-Yellow Color Blindness: This is further categorized into the following types:
4. Total Color Blindness: This condition can be classified into the following types:
Color blindness can be either inherited or acquired. Based on this, two types of the condition occur as given below:
The main symptom of color blindness is the inability to distinguish between colors or making mistakes while identifying colors. If one feels that his/her child may be color blind, the main signs to notice are:
One may be having color blindness if he or she is not able to distinguish between certain colors. A family history of the condition increases the chance of developing color blindness. A person who experiences eye strains after seeing a particular color, he/she must go for a color blindness test.
Hereditary color blindness cannot be prevented. However, acquired color blindness can be prevented if all possible causes are avoided. Thus, there is no way to prevent color blindness which is present in the child from birth. But, one can reduce the chances of having color blindness in later life. To reduce the risk of acquired blindness, one must go for regular eye exams and follow a healthy lifestyle.
Inherited color vision deficiency (CVD) can be diagnosed using simple screening tests. The H-R-R (Hardy-Rand-Rittler) and Ishihara color plates can be used for evaluation of type and degree of color blindness. In Ishihara color test, plates are used which are numbered 1-17 and plates from 18-24 contain one or two lines. In order to pass the test, the patient must correctly identify the number and trace the wiggly lines. In both the tests, the patient is asked to identify colored shapes and numbers that vary in color and intensity. The deficiency is measured and detected based on the responses of the patients.
There is another test known as the Farnsworth-Munsell D15 Color Vision Test and the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Color Vision Test. This test evaluates or checks the ability of a person to identify color gradations. The patient is asked to place the discs of various colors in order.
An eye specialist may perform a test to know if a person has color blindness. In this test, the patient is shown a pattern of multi-colored dots. If one does not have color blindness, he/she will be able to see numbers and shapes in the dots. If one has color blindness, he/she may not be able to find numbers or shapes in the dots. Nothing may be visible to such a person.
There is another type of test in which the patient is asked to arrange colored chips in order in accordance with the similarity of the colors. People who have color vision problems face difficulty in arranging the colored chips correctly.
Currently, there is no treatment for color blindness. Color filters or contact lenses can be used in some situations for improving the brightness of colors. Wearing colored contact lenses can help see the difference between colors. However, these do not provide normal color vision and can often distort images.
One can go for glasses that prevent glare. People having severe issues related to color vision are better able to see differences between colors when there is less brightness and glare.
Gene therapy for color blindness is a therapy that converts color blind individuals to trichromats by inserting a photopigment gene in them.
Curing color blindness cannot be cured completely. People are color blind as a result of defective genes on the X chromosome. Gene therapy which repairs the damaged chromosome can help in some cases. Light filtering lenses can help color blind people differentiate between certain colors.
Ayurvedic treatments like Tarpana is very useful in the treatment of color blindness. Intake of Triphala Ghrita is quite beneficial in the treatment of the condition.
Herbal medicines like Divya Amrit Rasayana and Saptamrit Lauh provide nutritional value to the eye. Thus, these can be used.
If you know of someone having color blindness or if your child is having the condition it is advisable to take the following steps:
There is no OTC medication available for treating color blindness. Further, there are no eye drops available which can be used for management of symptoms. However, there are some self-management methods that have been discussed below:
Controlling lighting in home and workplace can provide comfort in color blindness. Natural light is the best. Bright light and glare should be avoided in color blindness. Finally, proper diet helps a lot in maintaining good health of the eyes.
Academician, Shelly's rich experience as an academic and research professional speaks volume. Her fields of interest are genetics, biotechnology and drug research. Shelly keeps herself abreast with latest scientific researches all around the globe and loves to write about the same.
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