Defective Color Vision

What is Defective Color Vision?

Normal perception of color is something most of us take for granted.  Color labels we attach to objects such as “blue sky” and “green grass” have specific meaning only to people with normal color vision.

“Colorblind” is an exaggerated term handed down over time, referring to individuals who have abnormal color vision.  About eight percent of males and less than one percent of females have faulty color perception from birth.   The degree to which a person may possess abnormal color vision ranges from slight difficulty in recognizing shades of color to complete loss of color vision.  If one is reasonably correct in identifying colors, this slight difference may not be detectable.   It is when a person incorrectly identifies a color that these differences become apparent to others.

What Causes Defective Color Vision?

While the perception of color involves complex activities of the eye and the brain, the causes of congenital (from birth) defect of color vision are more simply explained.  The retina at the back of the eye (like the film in a camera) contains types of seeing elements (cells) called rods and cones.  The rods are responsible for night vision and operate under conditions of dim light.  The cones are responsible for color vision and operate in daylight conditions.  There are three types of cones: blue, green and red, which act together to allow us to perceive a full range of color from deep indigo to bright red.

The formation of each cone pigment (blue, green, or red) is controlled by heredity.  An abnormal gene may subtly alter or completely eliminate a specific pigment.  An individual who has an inherited an abnormal gene can have difficulty distinguishing certain shades such as reds and greens.

Are There Other Forms of Color Vision Abnormalities?

Many people have color vision deficiencies that are not hereditary.  For example, aging changes may produce color vision abnormalities.  By far the most common color defect accompanies the normal aging of the lens called cataracts.  In a child, the lens inside the eye is crystal cleat but thereafter the lens gradually darken making it difficult for some older people to distinguish dark blues from dark greens, or dark grays.

Some medications may affect color vision.  Changes in color vision may also accompany retinal or optic nerve disease.  Therefore, if you suspect a color vision problem you should consult your ophthalmologist. 

How Is Color Vision Tested?

There are several ways to test color vision.  A common method requires recognition of colored numbers or symbols against a confusing background.  If a color test is taken using a colored filter in front of the eye (usually a red contact lens) it is possible to fool the test by making the colors in the colored plates stand out more boldly and achieve a higher score.  However, color-sense outside the test situation is not normal.

Can Anything Be Done About Defective Color Vision?

Hereditary color vision abnormalities cannot be cured.  It is impossible to restore to the eye those elements in the retina which nature did not provide at birth.  Some acquired color vision defects may be helped, as with surgical removal of cataracts.  However wearing a colored contact lens can reduce the sharpness of vision, produce sever distortion of 3-D perception and is only minimally effective in helping to recognize and identify most light shades of color with which most people with abnormal color vision have trouble.

Despite the lack of treatment for hereditary color vision defect, these patients go on to have perfectly normal lives and usually have no trouble with the ordinary tasks of daily life, including driving and reading.