WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COLOR BLINDNESS

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.