Color blindness is not a form of blindness at all, but a
deficiency in the way you see color. With this vision problem, you have
difficulty distinguishing certain colors, such as blue and yellow or red and
green.
Color blindness (color vision
deficiency) is an inherited condition. It affects males more frequently than
females. According to Prevent Blindness
America, an estimated 8 percent of males and less than 1 percent of females
have color vision problems.
Red-green color deficiency is the
most common form of color blindness.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS:
Do you have difficulty telling if colors are blue and yellow, or
red and green? Do other people sometimes inform you that the color you think
you are seeing is wrong? If so, it’s a sign that you have a color vision
deficiency.
Contrary to popular belief, it is
rare for a color blind person to see only in shades of gray.
Having color blindness does NOT
mean the person doesn’t see colors, but certain colors appear washed out and
are easily confused with other colors, depending on the type of color vision
deficiency they have.
If normally you have been able to see a full
range of color, and gradually you started noticing you miss colors, then you
definitely should visit your doctor. Sudden or gradual loss of color vision can
indicate any number of underlying health problems, such as cataracts. Tests can
also help to detect the color deficiency you have
CAUSES OF COLOR BLINDNESS?
It
occurs when light-sensitive cells in the retina fail
to respond appropriately to variations in wavelengths of light that enable people
to see an array of colors. These light-sensitive cells are called photoreceptors.
The 7 million cones in the human retina are responsible for color
vision, and these photoreceptors are concentrated in the central zone of the
retina called the macula.
The center of the macula is
called the fovea, and this tiny (0.3 mm diameter) area contains the highest
concentration of cones in the retina and is responsible for our most acute color
vision.
Inherited forms of color
blindness often are related to deficiencies in certain types of cones or
outright absence of these cones.
Apart from differences in genetic makeup, other
causes of color vision defects include:
·
Parkinson's
disease (PD). Because
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder, light-sensitive nerve cells in
the retina where vision processing occurs may be damaged and cannot function
properly.
·
Cataracts. Clouding of the eye's natural lens that occurs with cataracts can "wash out"
color vision.
·
Tiagabine
for epilepsy. An antiepileptic
drug known as tiagabine has been shown to reduce color vision. The effects is
NOT permanent
·
Kallman's
syndrome. This inherited
condition involves failure of the pituitary gland, which can lead to incomplete
or unusual gender-related development such as of sexual organs. Color blindness
can be one symptom of this condition.
·
Aging. Color blindness also can occur when aging processes damage
retinal cells.
·
Injury. An injury or damage to areas of the brain where vision
processing takes place also can cause color vision deficiencies.
TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT
Lenses For Color Blindness:
Some
people use special lenses to enhance color perception, they come inform of
contact lens or eyeglass. These types of lenses are available from a limited
number of eye care
practitioners. If your eye doctor doesn't handle these types of
lenses, ask for a referral so that you can seek out someone who might be able
to assist you.
You also can learn ways to work around your inability to pick out
certain colors. For example, you might organize and label your clothing to
avoid color clashes. (Ask friends or family members to help!)
Diagnosing color
vision deficiency early also may prevent learning problems during school years,
particularly because many learning materials rely heavily on color perception.
If your child has a color deficiency, be sure to speak with his or her teachers
about it, so they can plan their lessons and presentations accordingly
#NOTE#: A major study of preschoolers has found that
among Caucasian boys, one in 20 is color blind (or, more precisely, color
vision deficient), and African-American, Asian and Hispanic boys have lower
rates of the mostly genetic condition.
