Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see the world in a different light? While most of us take for granted our ability to detect the full spectrum of colours, there is a disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, colour blindness.
Dr Ajay Sharma, Chief Medical Director, EyeQ, explained the symptoms, types, causes, diagnosis, and treatment for this condition.
What Is Colour Blindness
Dr Sharma said, "A person who is colour blind is unable to distinguish between certain hues of colour. This occurs because the person may lack particular colour-sensitive pigments in their eyes since birth. The cones cells of the eye, which are located at the back of the eyeball, are often where these pigments are found."
People who are colour blind are unable to see these colours because they lack some pigments in their eyes. Depending on the sort of colour blindness they have, they may perceive red as pale green or grey, whereas we perceive red as red.
Dr Sharma added that the majority of those who carry this condition and pass it on to their progeny are girls. Only when both the mother and the father are carriers will a girl child develop colour blindness."
Symptoms Of Colour Blindness
- The inability to see specific colours is the most obvious sign of colour blindness. You might, for instance, be able to see red and green but not colours like blue and yellow.
- While most people can see a wide range of colours, you might only be able to distinguish a few shades of colour.
- You would only be able to distinguish between black, white, and grey.
- You may have trouble recognising the vividity of colours.
Types Of Colour Blindness
Dr Sharma listed different types of colour blindness as follows:
Monochromatism
A person with this condition can only distinguish between one type of colour. This indicates that there is just one kind of cone in the eye. It is a rare condition that is also referred to as achromatopsia. Only different tones of grey are visible to those who experience this condition.
Dichromatism
In this type, a person can only distinguish between two colours. As a result, he would only have two different sorts of cones; the third type would be absent.
Abnormal Trichromatism
In this situation, the individual has all three types of cones, but they are either less numerous or dysfunctional. People who suffer from this type of colour blindness have a narrower colour spectrum. Anomaly trichromats are the term used to describe people having this vision. Protanomaly, deuteranomaly, and tritanomaly are the three types of abnormal circumstances.
Protanomaly patients have diminished red-light sensitivity. The most prevalent kind of colour blindness, deuteranomaly, is characterised by diminished sensitivity to green light. Tritanomaly, or decreased sensitivity to blue light, is an uncommon condition.
Risk Factors And The Causes
Dr Sharma said, "Even though colour blindness is typically a hereditary disorder, there are some eye conditions that can cause it. 'Acquired colour blindness' can be brought on by illnesses like cataracts. Once the problem has been treated surgically, a person's eyesight returns to normal."
He further said that colour blindness can also result from eye or brain damage. This eye condition can also be brought on by medications that affect the eyes.
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Risk Elements For Colour Blindness
Dr Sharma listed the risk factors for colour blindness, which include the following:
- People with a family history of the illness are at a higher risk of developing it.
- Compared to women, men are more likely to suffer colour blindness.
- Colour blindness is a risk factor for some drugs, including hydroxychloroquine.
- White people are more vulnerable.
- The risk of colour blindness is further increased by age-related eye conditions, such as cataracts and glaucoma.
- Comorbidities include Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, or Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Diagnosis For Colour Blindness
Dr Sharma said that since colour blindness begins in childhood, most people are unaware that they have the illness. Because kids learn the colours of objects and utilise the same method when taking a test for colour blindness, children make the condition more challenging to detect. The two primary tests used to identify the condition can be modified.
He added that the Ishihara Test is the most widely used test to identify colour blindness. It involves using a deck of cards with variously coloured circles on them. Many different coloured dots are used to create each circle. The number in the middle would not be visible to someone who is colourblind.
This test also includes a paediatric variant, mostly for kids who can't read numbers. When a child is four years old, they can be tested for colour blindness since they are old enough to understand inquiries regarding what they can and cannot see.
Treatment For Colour Blindness
Dr Sharma asserted that colour blindness does not have a cure, however, some things can be done to help those who experience this condition."
He further said, "The creation of "light filtering lenses" is one advancement in this area. These lenses are designed to allow those who have the disorder to see all colours. They can see all colours because the lenses assist in filtering out the hue of light that they are unable to see. Despite being in its early stages, this is not readily accessible."
Tools To Aid People With Colour Blindness
Visual Aids: Several apps and gadgets can make it easier to tell apart different colours.
Memory Aids: A person who is colour-blind can use memory aids to complete daily tasks like driving.
A colour-blind individual may find it simpler to get by if they have a non colour-blind pal. They can aid in chores like purchasing clothing or paint.
Complications Of Colour Blindness
Dr Sharma emphasised that driving can be extremely risky for someone who is colourblind. Drivers must be able to distinguish between the various colours of a traffic light, but they must also be able to distinguish the colour of the lights on the automobile in front of them.
A car that is stopped, for instance, will flash a red light, and a driver who is reversing will flash a yellow light. Being unable to distinguish between colours could be fatal.
Bottomline
There is currently no treatment available for colour blindness, which is a chronic condition. However, it is not a serious illness, and the affected individual can perform their everyday activities without too many problems. If taking any prescription has caused colour blindness as a side effect, the doctor may advise switching to an alternate medication or stopping the drug altogether. This action might aid in healing the issue.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is provided by the expert, however, we recommend you to consult your expert for a diagnosis based on your medical history.