The view through the lens of color vision disorders: From color vision deficiency to color blindness (causes & symptoms)

In this blog you will find out what a color vision disorder is, what forms of color blindness there are and what their biological causes are. We also show which symptoms can be used to recognize a colour vision disorder, which challenges it poses in everyday life and which aids and tips are available for those affected!

What is color vision deficiency

Color vision deficiency is a disorder that is more commonly known in our language area as color blindness. This is an impairment of color vision. People who suffer from color blindness have difficulty recognizing and distinguishing certain colors correctly. In short, this is because the photoreceptors in the eye, which are responsible for color recognition, do not function properly.

Causes in the eye for color vision disorders

If color perception is disturbed, this can have various causes. However, the reason is always similar on a biological level: the photoreceptors in the retina are malfunctioning. These are specialized cells that are responsible for converting light stimuli into electrical signals, which can then be transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve. A distinction is made between:

  1. Chopsticks
  2. Cone cells

The cones are responsible for color perception and are divided into three types that react to different wavelengths of light:

  • M-pin for the color green
  • L-pin for the color red
  • S-pin for the color blue

The remaining colors are created by mixing green, red and blue. In most cases, the M and/or L cones are affected, leading to the well-known red-green weakness. In exceptional cases, however, all types of cones are affected, so that those affected are completely colorblind.

Types of color vision deficiency

Color blindness occurs in different forms. While some people are hardly affected at all, there are others who have major problems with their color vision impairment in everyday life. By far the most common form is “red-green vision loss”.

As the name suggests, these people find it extremely difficult to distinguish between the shades of red and green. And this is not only problematic when driving at traffic lights.

What other color blindnesses are there? Causes i objaw

  • Protanomaly (red-weak): The color red is perceived incorrectly.
  • Protanopia (ślepa na zgniliznę): The color red cannot be seen at all.
  • Deuteranomaly (weak green): Green color tones can be perceived to a limited extent.
  • Deuteranopia (green-blind): Green is invisible.
  • Tritanomaly (blue-weak or yellow-green-weak): Blue and yellow color tones are disturbed from perception.
  • Achromasia (total color blindness): Seeing the world in black, white and shades of gray. No color perception in the true sense of the word.

Congenital and acquired color vision deficiency or color blindness

Either you’ve always had it or it develops as you get older. For this reason, a distinction is made in medicine between congenital and later acquired color vision disorders:

Congenital color vision disorders: Make the diagnosis early

If the color vision disorder is congenital, więc you have always had it. It often first appears in early childhood during the phase in which the eye learns to recognize colors. Parents or educators often notice quickly if the child has difficulty recognizing and naming colors. Then it is high time to have this checked by an ophthalmologist. The confusion between red and green is particularly common. There, the disease can be diagnosed with color charts and other examinations of the retina of the eye.

Men are significantly more frequently affected by a congenital color vision disorder than women. About 8 percent of men and only 0.5 percent of women in Europe suffer from one of the above-mentioned forms of color blindness. The overrepresentation of men is probably due to the prevalence of defective color vision genes on the X chromosome. Color vision disorders can be inherited.

Acquired color vision disorders: A case for the ophthalmologist

If the color vision disorder occurs later in life or In adulthood, it usually comes on suddenly and is accompanied by certain health problems. One example of this is the age-related macular degeneration (AMD for short) in which the retina changes in such a way that color vision can also be affected. However, diabetes and certain medications can also contribute to color blindness. In principle, color blindness can develop at any time. Statistically, however, older people are more frequently affected, as they also suffer from eye diseases more often. Regardless of the intensity and cause, a sudden onset of color blindness should be clarified as soon as possible. After clarification, the ophthalmologist can make a diagnosis and treat the color blindness if necessary. treat the color vision defect if necessary.

How color vision disorders affect daily life

Even if people with color blindness or Although people with color vision deficiency adapt to circumstances over the course of their lives, there are always situations in which the impairment affects their lives. For example in the following areas:

  • Everyday life: reading traffic lights correctly, recognizing color markings and choosing clothes in matching colors.
  • Education: In school or at work, problems can arise with certain tasks because, for example, diagrams cannot be recognized correctly.
  • Occupation: Particularly in occupations where color recognition is important, those affected have difficulties. For example in the fields of graphic design, art, transportation and logistics.
  • Social interaction: Recognizing and interpreting facial expressions can also be difficult. But a visit to the museum is also experienced differently.
  • Art and Ęsthetics: people with color vision disorders experience art completely differently. Their experience also differs when watching movies or looking at pictures.

How strong the effect is always depends on which color vision disorder is present and how pronounced it is. In most cases, however, those affected can lead a largely normal and fulfilling life – even with complete color blindness.

Aids and support for color vision deficiency

There are now various approaches to making life as barrier-free as possible. Color filter glasses are special glasses that are developed to compensate for color vision disorders and thus improve the differentiation of colors. Ideally, they are individually adapted to the eye.

But modern apps and online tools can also help people with color vision deficiency. These are able to identify and display colors in texts, images and videos. This also includes special software that adjusts the screen on cell phones and computers so that the colors are displayed optimally.

Well-designed lighting of rooms and objects can also enhance the color contrasts and thus facilitate recognition. Especially in public spaces, the sensitivity for people with color vision deficiencies has increased significantly and elements that are universally legible and recognizable are implemented accordingly in the design.

Treating color blindness: Can a color vision disorder be cured?

There is still no complete cure for congenital color vision disorders in particular. This is because it is based on a genetic defect that cannot be compensated for. However, for these people there are the aforementioned options to alleviate the symptoms of color blindness.

If color blindness or If a color vision disorder only becomes apparent later, it often helps to treat the cause. For example, if AMD is cured, color perception can recover.

In any case, it is worthwhile for those affected to seek the expert advice and examination of an ophthalmologist. They know the right tools, have the perfect treatment method if required and can help you to live your best life – even without red, green or blue.

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Author:

Dr. Victor Derhartunian

Nachdem er sein Handwerk von den beiden Pionieren der Laserchirurgie gelernt hat, gehört Dr. Victor Derhartunian zu den führenden Augenlaser-Chirurgen. Er leitet die Praxis in Wien und kann seine Patienten in fünf Sprachen beraten.