Color Blindness
Topic Overview
What is color blindness?
Color blindness means you have trouble seeing red, green, or blue or a mix of these colors. It’s rare that a person sees no color at all.
Color blindness is also called a color vision problem.
A color vision problem can change your life. It makes it harder to learn and read, and you may not be able to have certain careers. But children and adults with color vision problems can learn to make up for their problems seeing color.
What causes color blindness?
Most color vision problems are inherited (genetic) and are present at birth.
People usually have three types of cone cells in the eye. Each type senses either red, green, or blue light. You see color when your cone cells sense different amounts of these three basic colors. Most cone cells are found in the macula, which is the central part of the retina.
See a picture of the eye
that shows the retina and the macula.
Inherited color blindness happens when you don't have one of these types of cone cells or they don't work right. You may not see one of these three basic colors, or you may see a different shade of that color or a different color. This type of color vision problem doesn't change over time.
A color vision problem is not always inherited. In some cases, a person can have an acquired color vision problem. This can be caused by:
- Aging.
- Eye problems, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, or diabetic retinopathy.
- Injury to the eye.
- Side effects of some medicines.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of color vision problems vary:
- You may see many colors, so you may not know that you see color differently from others.
- You may only be able to see a few shades of color, while most people can see thousands of colors.
- In rare cases, you may see only black, white, and gray.
How is color blindness diagnosed?
Tests measure how well you recognize different colors.
- In one type of test, you look at sets of colored dots and try to find a pattern in them, such as a letter or number. The patterns you see help your doctor determine which colors you have trouble with.
- In another type of test, you arrange colored chips in order according to how similar the colors are. People with color vision problems cannot arrange the colored chips correctly.
How is it treated?
Inherited color vision problems cannot be treated or corrected.
Some acquired color vision problems can be treated, depending on the cause. For example, if a cataract is causing a problem with color vision, surgery to remove the cataract may restore normal color vision.
You can find ways to help make up for a color vision problem, such as wearing colored contact lenses or eyeglasses or wearing glasses that block glare. You can learn to look for other things, such as brightness or location, rather than colors. For example, you can learn the order of the three colored lights on a traffic signal.
How can you help a child who has color blindness?
Color vision problems can make learning and reading hard for children, which can lead to poor schoolwork and low self-esteem.
You can help your child by:
- Making sure your child is tested for color vision problems during routine eye tests. The sooner you know there is a problem, the sooner you can help your child.
- Telling your child’s teachers and other school staff about the problem. Suggest seating your child where there is no glare and using a color of chalk that your child can see.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning about color blindness:
Being diagnosed:
Getting treatment:
Ongoing concerns:
Living with color blindness:
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| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: October 31, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology | |
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| Topic Contents | |
 | Topic Overview |
| Symptoms | |
| Exams and Tests | |
| Treatment Overview | |
| Home Treatment | |
| Other Places To Get Help | |
| Related Information | |
| References | |
| Credits | |