Color blindness

Color blindness, color vision deficiency (CVD) or color deficiency is the decreased ability to <a href="/facts/Color_vision/j3ou3Izz">see color</a> or differences in <a href="/facts/Color/a1QSEJhj">color</a>. The severity of color blindness ranges from mostly unnoticeable to full absence of color perception. Color blindness is usually a <a href="/facts/Sex_linkage/buXJkWJg">sex-linked</a> <a href="/facts/Heredity/t0aMmRWx">inherited</a> problem or variation in the functionality of one or more of the three classes of <a href="/facts/Cone_cell/JoQeEzoF">cone cells</a> in the retina, which mediate color vision. The most common form is caused by a genetic condition called <a href="/facts/Congenital_red%25E2%2580%2593green_color_blindness/fmeTr5EJ">congenital red–green color blindness</a> (including protan and deutan types), which affects up to 1 in 12 males (8%) and 1 in 200 females (0.5%). The condition is more prevalent in males, because the <a href="/facts/Opsin/5kBeewYI">opsin</a> genes responsible are located on the <a href="/facts/X_chromosome/hpJxhSUr">X chromosome</a>. Rarer genetic conditions causing color blindness include congenital blue–yellow color blindness (tritan type), <a href="/facts/Blue_cone_monochromacy/UEQqUspt">blue cone monochromacy</a>, and <a href="/facts/Achromatopsia/LtR8BDg8">achromatopsia</a>. Color blindness can also result from physical or chemical damage to the <a href="/facts/Eye/h3lbYU55">eye</a>, the <a href="/facts/Optic_nerve/3AJDdVN5">optic nerve</a>, parts of the <a href="/facts/Brain/Xo5ABfXl">brain</a>, or from medication toxicity. Color vision also naturally degrades in old age.
Diagnosis of color blindness is usually done with a <a href="/facts/Color_vision_test/EFnfmVGB">color vision test</a>, such as the <a href="/facts/Ishihara_test/6mpKRe9w">Ishihara test</a>. There is no cure for most causes of color blindness; however there is ongoing research into <a href="/facts/Gene_therapy_for_color_blindness/h26ElNtf">gene therapy</a> for some severe conditions causing color blindness. Minor forms of color blindness do not significantly affect daily life and the color blind automatically develop adaptations and coping mechanisms to compensate for the deficiency. However, diagnosis may allow an individual, or their parents/teachers, to actively accommodate the condition. <a href="/facts/Color_blind_glasses/tVoC5MzE">Color blind glasses</a> (e.g. <a href="/facts/EnChroma/InFLWG5R">EnChroma</a>) may help the red–green color blind at some <a href="/facts/Color_task/XkjxhSGB">color tasks</a>, but they do not grant the wearer "normal color vision" or the ability to see "new" colors. Some <a href="/facts/Mobile_app/r7vp6meo">mobile apps</a> can use a device's camera to identify colors.
Depending on the jurisdiction, the color blind are ineligible for certain careers, such as <a href="/facts/Aircraft_pilot/SJaN1UAJ">aircraft pilots</a>, <a href="/facts/Train_driver/P0IjXLTu">train drivers</a>, <a href="/facts/Police_officer/I8r0VjSm">police officers</a>, <a href="/facts/Firefighter/483TlnYB">firefighters</a>, and members of the <a href="/facts/Armed_forces/kgNmLUnN">armed forces</a>. The effect of color blindness on artistic ability is controversial, but a number of famous artists are believed to have been color blind.

Color blindness open-in-new

Color blindness