Color Blindness: How It Happens and What Causes It

Have you heard of the term “color blind”?

If you’re not familiar with it (or with the other term “color deficiency”), you may think that people who have it only see the world in black and white, or are incapable of seeing anything that has color. 

But not to worry - that’s why the website of the best optometrist in Albany has this article.

Let’s take a look at what color blindness really is, how it happens, and what are its possible causes and solutions.

And as a spoiler: yes, you may get it even if you don’t have it now. 
 

What is color blindness?

Let’s first clearly define color blindness. A better name for this condition is Color Vision Deficiency or CVD. It’s a condition that means you see colors differently than other people.

The most common example you would probably have heard of is a person having a hard time distinguishing red from green. That would make it hard for them to drive unless they memorize that red is on top, while green is at the bottom.

In short, if you’re color blind, you will generally have trouble distinguishing or telling the difference between colors.

As mentioned in a previous blog post, color blindness occurs when you don’t have enough of one of three photopigments in your eyes. Photopigments are located inside the retina receptors called cones, which tell your eyes how much blue, red, or green is in an object. Without enough photopigment of a corresponding color, you will find it hard to see that particular color. 
 

What are the symptoms of color blindness?

The thing about color blindness that you need to know is that even if you have it, you won’t necessarily know that you are, indeed, color blind. And in fact, the condition can be so mild that even if you have it, you won’t notice it at all.

However, here are some definite signs that you have color vision deficiency:

• You have trouble telling colors from one another
• You cannot accurately describe how bright colors are
• You cannot say how one shade of color differs from another shade

Other less obvious symptoms may include you having quick side-to-side eye movements or you having eyes that are more sensitive than normal to light.

Of course, the only way to determine if a person is truly color blind is if you go to your eye doctor in Auckland (or wherever you’re located) and get a color vision test.
 

What causes color blindness?

There are two ways you can become color blind. The first is simply through your parents. Your parents may have a mutation in their genes that cause faulty photopigments, which are molecules that detect color in their retinas.

As a result of them passing that down to you, you also become color blind. In short, color blindness is a genetic condition, making it simply hereditary.

The other cause is any lifestyle choice, disease, or injury that affects your eyes or the part of the brain that helps you see color. Examples are:

• Glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other eye diseases
• Alzheimer’s and other brain degenerative sicknesses
• Cataracts due to age or otherwise
• Physical damage to the eye, such as because of a punch or a hit
• Intake of certain drugs
• Exposure to certain harsh chemicals due to work or otherwise
• Diabetes

What are the different types of color blindness?

There are three kinds: Red-Green Color Vision Deficiency, Blue-Yellow Color Vision Deficiency, and Total Color Vision Deficiency. Let’s take a look at each one.

Red-Green Color Vision Deficiency

You can say you have this particular CVD when you cannot see red or green properly. There are several types of this deficiency:

• Deuteranomaly: It’s the most common form of color blindness. It affects around 5% of males but rarely females. For this one, the green photopigment doesn’t work well. Yellow and green look redder, while you cannot distinguish blue from violet.
• Protanomaly: The red photopigment is not working as well as it should. Orange, red, and yellow tend to be greener to you, and colors are also less vibrant. Again, it’s rare in females, and this time only affects around 1% of males.
• Protanopia: If you have this, red simply looks dark gray. Some orange, yellow, and green shades just look yellow.
• Deuteranopia: Green doesn’t work for you. Reds look brownish-yellow, and you translate greens as beige.

Blue-Yellow Color Vision Deficiency

If you have this, your blue photopigments are either missing or work incorrectly. It’s the second most common CVD and affects both males and females equally. There are two types:

• Tritanomaly: The blue photopigments are very limited. Blues tend to look green, and you cannot differentiate pink from yellow or red. It’s a rare condition, though. 
• Tritanopia: You have no blue photopigments at all. Blue is basically green to you. Plus, yellow is either violet or looks light grey. Again, it’s very rare. 

Total Color Vision Deficiency

Another term for this condition is complete color blindness or monochromacy. You won’t see any color at all, and you likely have blurry vision. This condition has two types: 

• Cone monochromacy: This means two of 3 of your photopigments do not work. Since only one is working, you cannot tell colors apart. And if one of the photopigments happens to be blue, you will have blurry eye vision. You will also probably be nearsighted and have uncontrollable eye movements.
• Rod monochromacy: This is the most severe form of color blindness. None of your photopigments are working. In short, the whole world will appear black, white, and gray to you. Bright lights may also have the tendency to hurt your eyes. 

Who’s at risk of getting color blindness?

While the condition is uncommon, you’re likely to get it if:

• You have a family member or a family history of this condition
• You have certain eye diseases
• You have health problems that were mentioned above like diabetes or Alzheimer’s
• You take certain medicines
• You’re male (males have a higher risk for getting this than women)

How can you manage color blindness?

Ask an optometrist in North Shore, Auckland, and they’ll tell you that there is no cure for this condition. However, you can manage it using EnChroma color blind lenses, especially if you are suffering from red-green CVD. 

EnChroma lenses filter out the red and green wavelengths of light right at the point where there’s a conflict with how you see color. It will also help you distinguish between red and green and enhance the colors that you can see.

If you would like to know more about Enchroma (we’re the only optometrist in NZ authorized to carry these glasses) or you’re just generally concerned about your color vision, not to worry - that’s one of the specialties of Nvision Eyecare! 

We can easily address your concerns with our color blind test and other assessments, and also answer any questions you may have. The best thing to do is arrange a consultation as soon as possible and speak with one of our experienced and professional optometrists.

Contact us at 09-884-0034 or set an appointment online today.

We look forward to hearing from you!