There are approximately 300 million people with color blindness in the world. Color blindness is defined as unable to distinguish certain colors, or (rarely in humans) any colors at all. Contrary to popular belief, it is rare for a color-blind person to see only in shades of gray. Most people who are considered "color-blind" can 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.

TYPES OF COLOR BLINDNESS
There are three major types of color blindness, they are:

• Red-Green Color Blindness. Normal color vision is known as trichromacy–tri because it uses all three types of cones correctly allowing us to see so many brilliant colors.
• Blue-Yellow Color Blindness.
• Total Color Blindness.

Inherited color blindness, also called color vision deficiency has no cure today. For some people with milder forms of red-green color blindness, specially formulated color-correcting eyeglasses may improve the contrast between some colors. The results vary depending on the type and extent of a person’s color vision deficiency.

How Do Color Blindness Glasses Work?  

Some people use special lenses to enhance color perception, which are filters available in either contact lenses or eyeglass lens form. Color blindness-correcting glasses will not change color perception for people whose deficiency is caused by a complete absence of red or green photoreceptors. And the positive effects of the glasses last only as long as they are being worn. The glasses don't in any way modify a person's photoreceptors, optic nerves or visual cortex to fix color blindness.

One example are color-blind glasses developed by Enchroma. The tinted lenses in Enchroma's color-blind glasses include patented light-filtering technology to give people with common forms of color blindness the ability to see the broad spectrum of bright colors most of us take for granted, according to the company.

If you have difficulty telling if colors are blue and yellow, or red and green, you may have a color vision deficiency. Located in the heart of downtown Nashville, Shofner Vision Center offers comprehensive vision care for patients ten years and older. If it’s been over a year since your last eye exam, we encourage you to schedule an appointment today online or give us a call at (615) 340-4733.

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