Color Vision

By
Maha Abdullah
 Color vision
• Defect in color vision maybe cogent or acquired
congenital color defects occur in about 8% to 10% of
males and 0.4% of females
• Blindness may occur after diseases of the optic nerve
or central retina . congenital Color Blindness maybe
partial or complete
• In the completely Color Blindness the visual acuity is
reduced and usually the patient
• Has nystagmus all colors appear as various shades
this color blindness is rare
 Color blindness
• This factsheet is for people who have color
blindness, or who would like information
about it.
• Color blindness refers to a range of conditions
that are characterised by an inability to see
certain colours. About eight in 100 men and
one in 100 women are affected by colour
blindness.
 About color blindness
• Colour vision
• There are two types of light-sensitive cells in
your eyes called rods and cones. They are both
found in the retina, which is the layer at the
back of your eye that processes images. Rods
allow you to see in dim light or at night,
whereas cones allow you to see in detail and
distinguish colors.
• There are three types of cone cells: red cones, green
cones and blue cones. Each cone has a different
level of sensitivity to light. When you look at an
object, light enters your eyes and stimulates the
cone cells. Your brain then interprets the cone cells
allowing you to see the color of the object. The red,
green and blue cones all work together to allow you
to see the whole spectrum of colors, for example
when the red and green cones are stimulated to a
certain level you will see the color yellow.
 Color blindness
• Color blindness occurs when one or more of
the cone types are faulty or missing. This
means that you will have difficulty seeing the
cone color that is missing or faulty. For
example, if the red cone is missing you won't
be able to see colors containing red as clearly.
• Most people with color blindness can't
distinguish certain shades of red and green.
 Types of color blindness
There are several different types of color blindness.
• Dichromatism
• Dichromatic is when one of the cones is missing.
There are three types of dichromatic color
blindness:
• protanopia - the red cones are missing
• deuteranopia - the green cones are missing
• tritanopia - the blue cones are missing
 Anomalous trichomatsis
• Anomalous trichomatsis is when you have all three
cones but there is a fault in one of them making you
less sensitive to certain colors. Again, depending on
which cone is faulty, this will cause:
• protanomalous trichromatism - the red cones are less
sensitive
• deuteranomalous trichromatism - the green cones are
less sensitive
• tritanomalous trichromatism - the blue cones are less
sensitive
• Red cone and green cone defects are known
as red-green color blindness.
• Monochromatism
• Monochromatic is a rare type of color
blindness, where none of your cone cells
function properly or only one type works as it
should. This results in no color vision - all you
see is black, white and shades of grey.
 Symptoms of colour blindness
• The main symptom of color blindness is a difficulty in
distinguishing colors or making mistakes when identifying
them. You may see only a slight difference in different shades
of colour or if you have severe colour blindness, all colours
look the same.
• In particular situations this may be made worse, for example:
• in low-level lighting
• if the area of colour is small
• if you view a large area of color at a distance
• if you try to distinguish pale colors or dark shades
 Causes of color blindness
• Color blindness is either inherited (you're born with it) or you
acquire it as a result of an illness, ageing or exposure to
chemicals.
• Inherited color blindness
• Red-green and blue color blindness is usually passed down from
your parents. Red-green color blindness, the most common
form, is passed down on the X chromosome. Chromosomes are
structures that contain genes - these contain the instructions for
the development of cells, tissues and organs. If you're color-
blind, it means the instructions for the development of your
cone cells are wrong and the cones are missing or less sensitive.
• The X chromosome is a sex chromosome; males have an X
and a Y chromosome whereas females have two X
chromosomes. For a male to be affected, color blindness
only has to appear on his single X chromosome, whereas for
a female to inherit color blindness it must be on both X
chromosomes. This is why red-green color blindness is far
more common in men than in women.
• Blue color blindness affects both men and women equally.
This is because it's passed down on a non-sex chromosome.
• If you have inherited color blindness, it will stay the same
throughout your life - it won't get any better or any worse.
 Acquired color blindness
• You can become color blind as a result of an illness, a side-effect of a
medicine, and exposure to certain chemicals or a head injury for
example.
• Eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration
and optic nerve disease are all causes of acquired color blindness.
Other diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, liver disease and diabetes,
can also cause color blindness.
• Color blindness can be a side-effect of some medicines, such as anti-
inflammatory treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, the contraceptive pill
and some medicines for heart conditions. However, this is quite rare.
• There is also some evidence to suggest that exposure to industrial
chemicals, such as solvents, may cause color blindness. Alcohol abuse
and cigarettes have also been found to contribute.
• The ageing process can be a factor. As you get older,
you may experience subtle changes to your vision in
general, including your color vision.
• Unlike inherited color blindness, acquired color
blindness can vary over time. Symptoms may be mild
and remain stable, or they can be severe and
progress to more serious forms of color blindness,
such as monochromatic, very quickly. Often the
cause of the color blindness determines how severe
your symptoms will be.
 Diagnosis of color blindness

• Color blindness can be difficult to detect, particularly in

children with inherited color blindness as they may be
unaware that they have any problems with their color vision.
• If you have an eye test with an optometrist (a registered
health professional who examines eyes, tests sight and
dispenses glasses and contact lenses), your color vision will
be tested.
• You can also see your GP if you have any problems with
seeing colors. Your GP will ask about your symptoms and
examine you. He or she may also ask you about your medical
history.
• To test your color vision, your doctor or optician may
use the Ishihara test, which is often used to diagnose
red-green color blindness. It's not suitable for testing
blue color blindness. Color plates will be put in front
of you and you will be asked what number you can see
on the plate. Some of the plates contain information
that people with normal color vision can see, while
others will contain information that only people with
color blindness can see. If you make a certain amount
of errors, you can be diagnosed with color blindness.
• You may be referred to an ophthalmologist (a
doctor who specializes in eye heath) for more
tests to establish which type of color blindness
you have.
• A new test being introduced to diagnose color blindness
is the 'Color Assessment and Diagnosis' (CAD) test. This
can be used for both red-green and blue color blindness.
In this test, you will be shown coloured blocks in a grey
square that jump to new positions as you track them.
The process will be repeated with different colors and
shades. If you're color-blind, you will eventually be
unable to detect the blocks' movements. The CAD test
can show how weak the color was when it disappeared
and therefore give you a measure of how severe your
color blindness is.
 Treatment of color blindness
• There is currently no treatment for inherited
color blindness. Color filters or tinted contact
lenses can be used in some situations to
enhance the brightness between some colors;
these are occasionally used in the workplace.
• For acquired color blindness, once the cause
has been established and treated, your vision
may return to normal.
 Living with color blindness
• Color blindness can affect many everyday
tasks; from re-wiring an electrical plug, to
reading a map, to knowing when the traffic
lights have changed color. Being aware that
you're color blind will help prevent accidents
and allow you to develop strategies to deal
with any difficulties it causes.
• Color blindness may affect your career
choices. For some professions, such as being a
pilot or coastguard, good color vision is
essential and you may be tested if you apply
for a position. If you're concerned about your
color vision, it's important to get a diagnosis
and talk to your employer to ensure that your
workplace remains safe