It is a genetic defect inherited mainly from our parents that causes a defect in the retina, the light-sensitive inner lining of the eyes. People with this disease can see other colors, except black and white, although not as much as those they can see with normal vision.

In the human eye, the retina normally contains three types of cone-shaped sensitive cells. Each type is tuned to the wavelength of a different primary color of light red, blue, or green. Light of different wavelengths activates the corresponding cones, which sends a signal to the brain and makes it possible to perceive colors.

However, in people with color vision deficiency, the sensitivity of the cones to one or more colors is weak or changes in wavelength so that their response to color is altered.

Many people with this have difficulty differentiating between colors such as yellow, red, orange, and brown. This defect can make it difficult to see green mold on whole wheat bread or yellow cheese. If a person’s red-sensitive cones are very weak, a red rose appears black. Very few patients cannot see blue.

Children and color deficiency: Color vision defects are usually inherited and start right after birth, so children with this condition often learn to compensate. In other words, they learn to perceive contrast and brightness and associate these variations with these color names, even if they can’t differentiate between certain shades.

Because most schools often use color-coded teaching tools beginning in the early grades, both parents and teachers can mistakenly think that a child has a learning disability when in fact that child is color deficient. since many young people are not aware of their disability at all times. Childhood For good reason, therefore, vision screening in early childhood is recommended.

did you know Color vision deficiency occurs mainly in the male genders. This is because inherited color deficiency is passed on the X chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y. Therefore, if a female inherits a visual defect on one X chromosome , it is likely that the normal gene on the other chromosome will knock it out and your vision will not be affected. But when a man inherits an X chromosome defect from him, he certainly won’t have another X chromosome to fall back on.

Get tested today!

Tests to find out how color vision deficient a person has often use patterns of dots in various shades and shades. The widely used Ishihara test consists of up to 38 different patterns. If tests reveal a defect, an ophthalmologist may recommend further testing to determine if it is inherited or due to some other cause.