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| Definition: |
The inability to perceive colors in a normal fashion.
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| Causes, incidence, and risk factors: |
Colorblindness is an inherited condition that is sex linked recessive. As a result, very few women are colorblind, but approximately 1 in 10 men has some degree of colorblindness.
The most common form of colorblindness is red-green and has a wide range of variability within this group from very mild to extreme. The second most common form is blue-yellow, and a red-green deficit is almost always associated with this form. The most severe form of colorblindness is achromatopsia, the inability to see any color, and is often associated with other problems such as amblyopia (lazy eye), nystagmus, photosensitivity, and extremely poor vision. |
| Symptoms: |
- the inability to see colors with the same intensity as normal individuals
Symptoms may be so mild that affected people are unaware they are colorblind unless specifically tested. Most commonly, people have difficulty distinguishing shades of a particular color. Parents may notice colorblindness in a more severely affected child at the time the child would normally learn colors. In severe cases, other symptoms such as jiggling eyes (nystagmus) or roving eye movements may be present. |
| Signs and tests: |
| Several color vision tests are available through your physician or eye specialist (ophthalmologist). Testing for colorblindness is commonly performed along with other vision screenings. |
| Treatment: |
| There is no known treatment. People with this condition need to learn to cope. |
| Expectations (prognosis): |
| Colorblindness is a life-long condition. Most affected people cope without difficulty or disability. |
| Complications: |
| Colorblindness may exclude people from some jobs, such as being a pilot, where color vision is essential. |
| Calling your health care provider: |
| Call for an appointment with your health care provider or ophthalmologist if you suspect colorblindness. |
| Prevention: |
| Colorblindness is an inherited disorder. Because colorblindness is seldom a problem in life, genetic counseling is not generally indicated. |
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Review Date: 11/11/2001
Reviewed By: Raymond S. Douglas, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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