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The Different Degrees of Color Blindness
Posted by: Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute in Worth Sharing...
Color blindness happens when you cannot see colors correctly, also known as color deficiency. Color blindness occurs when someone is unable to distinguish between specific colors. Color Blindness usually happens between greens and reds, and occasionally blues.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, two types of cells detect light in the retina. The Rods detect only light and dark, which are very sensitive to low light levels. On the other hand, the cone cells detect color and are concentrated near the center of your vision. There are three types of variances of seeing color. The cones see color: red, green, and blue. The brain begins to interpret and uses input from these cone cells to determine our color perception.
What Are the Different Degrees of Color Blindness?
There are different degrees of color blindness. Some people with mild color deficiencies can see colors normally in good light but have difficulty in dim light. In contrast, others are unable to distinguish specific colors in any form of light. The most severe degree of color blindness is when all of the surroundings are seen in gray shades, which is not common. Color blindness primarily affects both eyes equally and remains stable throughout life.
What Are the Symptoms of Color Blindness?
The symptoms of color blindness range from mild to severe, and many people are unaware they have a color deficiency with the mild symptoms. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the symptoms may include:
- Not seeing the full effect of the colors hue and brightness
- Not able to distinguish this difference between shades of colors, which happens mainly with the reds and greens or the blues and yellow hues.
A very rare condition called achromatopsia is when there is the inability to see any color and see only the shades of gray.
What Are the Causes of Color Blindness?
Most people diagnosed with color blindness are born with it, and the defect is usually passed on from a mother to her son. The other color blindness problems that occur later in life are result from trauma to the eye, disease, toxic effects from drugs, metabolic disease, or vascular disease.
Who Is at Risk for Color Blindness?
Men have a much higher risk of being born with color blindness than women. There is an estimated 1 in 10 males who have some form of color deficiency. Also, certain conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, chronic alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease may increase the risk of acquiring color deficiency.
Diagnosis and Treatment for Color Blindness
Your eye doctor will be able to conduct a test to determine if you have color blindness. There is no treatment for color blindness; however, special glasses and contact lenses may help. We are here to help address the underlying condition, give support, and provide the best options available to provide you with the most of your eye health needs!
References: American Academy of Ophthalmology
