Color Blindness

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Most of us see our world in color. We enjoy looking at a lush green lawn or a red rose in full bloom. If you have a color vision defect, you may see these colors differently than most people.

There are three main kinds of color vision defects. Red-green color vision defects are the most common. This type occurs in men more than in women. The other major types are blue-yellow color vision defects and a complete absence of color vision.

Most of the time, color blindness is genetic. There is no treatment, but most people adjust and the condition doesn't limit their activities.

Start Here

• Color Blindness (National Eye Institute)
• What Is Color Blindness? (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Achromatopsia (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)

Genetics

• Achromatopsia: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Color vision deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Statistics and Research

• Eye Health Data and Statistics (National Eye Institute) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Color Vision Defects (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Evaluation of Retinal Structure and Visual Function in Blue Cone Monochromacy...
• Article: Longitudinal Imaging of the Foveal Cone Mosaic in CNGA3-Associated Achromatopsia.
• Article: Gene Therapy for Achromatopsia.
• Color Blindness -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• American Optometric Association
• Find an Ophthalmologist (American Academy of Ophthalmology) Also in Spanish
• National Eye Institute

Children

• Ask a Scientist: What Is Color Blindness? (National Eye Institute)
• Color Blindness (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)

Patient Handouts

• Color blindness (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Color vision test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish