WHAT IS COLOR BLINDNESS?
Color blindness is the condition in which part of the cones (nerve cells) in your eyes are absent or malfunctioning, making it impossible for you to perceive colors normally. You may have problems distinguishing between certain hues or tones, as well as recognizing color brightness. Most cases of color blindness are inherited as a result of a genetic abnormality.
It’s rare that color blindness results in complete color blindness. While most color-blind individuals see a wide spectrum of colors, their perception of some hues varies from that of others. Additionally, they could find it difficult to distinguish between particular hues or tones. A person who has some extremely rare types of color blindness is completely colorblind.
Color blindness is hereditary in most cases. This indicates that, in the case of the most prevalent red-green types of color blindness, it was inherited from your biological parents, specifically the mother. But later in life, medical disorders or other factors may potentially cause you to develop a color vision deficit. It’s critical to understand the type and severity of color blindness if you or your child suffers from it. See an optometrist or ophthalmologist for eye care information on the nature of the condition and your potential risks.
TYPES OF COLOR BLINDNESS
Different varieties of color blindness are identified based on the sorts of cones that aren’t functioning properly. A basic understanding of cones helps comprehend the various forms of color blindness. Your eye’s cones are nerve cells that identify colors in the visible light range. All of the visible wavelengths to humans are included in this spectrum. These vary in length from 700 nanometers (long) to 380 nanometers (short), or nm. You typically have three different kinds of cones at birth:
- Cones that detect red (also known as L cones) can detect long wavelengths or about 560 nanometers.
- M cones, or green-sensing cones, are cones that detect light in the middle wavelength range, or about 530 nanometers.
- Cones that sense blue light (also known as S cones) can detect short wavelengths, about 420 nanometers.
All three forms of cones are commonly found and function as intended. However, at least one kind of cone isn’t functioning properly if you have a color vision impairment. Your ability to perceive colors in the conventional sense is compromised by cone problems. Generally speaking, the following categories characterize the variety and effectiveness of cones you have:
Trichromacy: There are three different kinds of cones and they are all functional. In the conventional sense, you can see every color in the visible spectrum of light. This is a vision in full color.
Anomalous trichromacy: When one of the three types of cones you have isn’t responding to light at its proper wavelength. You see colors differently as a result, with variances from normal ranging from little to severe. In minor circumstances, you can just confuse muted or faint hues. More extreme situations may also lead to confusion between pure and vivid (completely saturated) colors. The terms for these kinds of color blindness finish in “anomaly,” which denotes partial vision of a particular color.
Dichromacy: There is a lack of one kind of cone. There are only two kinds of cones, which are often S cones and either L cones or M cones. Through the wavelengths that those two kinds of cones can detect, you view the world. Differentiating between fully saturated colors is difficult. The term “anopia” (which denotes the absence of a vision of a particular color) ends the names of several types of color blindness.
Monochromacy: The presence of only one kind of cone or the complete absence of cone function. You see color with very little or no ability at all. Rather, you perceive the world via a spectrum of gray tones.
Within these general categories, there are many specific types of color blindness.
Lack of red-green color
The predominant kind of color blindness is known as the red-green color deficit. It alters your perception of any hues or tones that contain some red or green. Four primary subtypes exist:
Protanopia: You don’t have any L cones. You therefore cannot see red light. Most colors appear to you as variations of blue or gold. It’s easy to mistake various tones of red for black. Dark brown can also be mistaken for deep hues of other colors, such as orange, red, or green.
Deuteranopia: There are no M cones on your body. You therefore cannot sense the green light. Most of what you see is blue and gold. Certain tones of red can be mistaken for certain colors of green. Yellows can also be mistaken for vivid green hues.
Protanomaly: Your L cones are less sensitive to red light than they should be, even though you have all three types of cones. Every color that incorporates red may seem less brilliant and red itself may seem like dark gray.
Deuteranomaly: Although you have all three cone types, the sensitivity of your M cones to green light is not as high as it should be. Most of the colors you see are muted, especially blues and yellows.
Lack of blue-yellow color Tritan deficiencies, often known as blue-yellow color vision defects, are far less prevalent and include:
Tritanopia: You don’t possess any S cones. Thus, blue light is invisible to you. Mostly, you’re seeing reds, pinks, lavender, and light blues.
Tritanomaly: Your S cones are less sensitive to blue light than they should be, even though you have all three types of cones. Greenish-blue hues appear to be devoid of yellow.
Monochromacy in blue cones
The rarest type of color blindness is this one. You cannot use M or L cones with this type of device. All you have are S cones. It’s difficult to distinguish between colors because the majority of what you see is gray. In addition, you can experience nystagmus, nearsightedness, and photophobia a sensitivity to light.
Achromatopsia, or rod monochromacy
When all or most of your cones are absent or malfunction, you have achromatopsia. Everything appears to be in shades of gray. Your quality of life may be significantly impacted by additional eyesight problems you have.
CAUSES OF COLOR BLINDNESS
Color blindness can be acquired or inherited (genetic). Every case has a different cause.
A genetic mutation results in inherited color blindness. Red-green color blindness, the most prevalent type, is inherited recessively via an X-linked mechanism. Conditions inherited in this way generally afflict babies with AMAB and are infrequent among babies with AFAB.
Acquired: There are numerous potential reasons for acquired color blindness, which often manifests as a blue-yellow color deficiency. Among them are: exposure to substances that can damage your nervous system, such as heavy metals, organic solvents, and solvent combinations, prolonged exposure to lights used in welding, pharmaceuticals, such as hydroxychloroquine (for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis), Eye disorders such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration, illnesses that impact the nervous system or brain, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Compared to inherited types, acquired color blindness is less common.
TREATMENT OF COLOR BLINDNESS
For those who have inherited color blindness, there is currently no known medical cure or treatment. If you develop color blindness, your doctor will address the underlying issue and change your prescription as necessary. This could help you see color more clearly. You may choose to wear color-blind glasses. When using such glasses, those with modest types of anomalous trichromacy may enjoy a richer color perception. People with color vision deficiencies can perceive the distinctions more clearly thanks to the glasses, which increase the contrast between colors. However, they don’t let you see any new hues, and each person’s experience will be different. Furthermore, it’s critical to understand that these glasses won’t fix any problems with your cones and aren’t a treatment.
In conclusion, Visit your general practitioner frequently, and have an annual eye examination to lower the risk of developing color blindness.