Serving Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont & Areas Nearby in Colorado
Color blindness is a vision problem that makes it hard to tell the difference between certain colors. If you are color blind, it usually does not mean you see everything in black and white or shades of gray. Full-color blindness is very rare. Most color-blind people have trouble with just one or two colors. The colors they have the most difficulty telling the difference between are red and green. Shades of red and green might look brownish to a color-blind person. If you or a loved one may be color blind, patient education should be a priority to understand the condition and how to live with it.
If you or your child need help coping with color blindness, please contact Kirk Eye Center today by calling (970) 669 - 1107 for service in the Loveland, CO, area.

How Does It Occur?
You see in color because the retina at the back of the eye has special cells called cones. There are 3 types of cones: cones for red light, cones for green light, and cones for blue light. These 3 types of cones mix the colors together to create all of the colors people see. In a color-blind person, the red and green cones are very similar to each other and try to see both colors of light. This causes an abnormal mix of color and color confusion.
Color blindness is usually an inherited and lifelong condition. It is most commonly passed from mother to son. A woman can be a “carrier” of the gene but will usually not be colorblind herself. Men cannot be just carriers of the gene. If a man has the color blindness gene then he is colorblind. For that reason, men are more commonly color blind than women.
Rarely an eye disease can cause you to become colorblind later in life. Usually color blindness is not caused by a disease.
How Is Color Blindness Diagnosed?
Our eye doctors at Kirk Eye Center can do a very simple test for color blindness. You look at a special test book that has a pattern of small colored circles. Some of the circles on the page are a different color and form a number. A color blind person will not be able to see the number because it will appear as the same color as the other circles on the page. The test book has about a dozen of these patterns in it to make sure of the diagnosis and to judge the severity of the color blindness. This test is usually easy enough that it is possible to get good results even with young children.
How Is It Treated?
Usually there is no need to treat color blindness. People with color blindness learn to tell the differences between colors. For example, green might look brighter than red. If a person is severely color blind, occasionally a red tinted contact lens is prescribed for just one eye. This may help the person see colors a little better.
How Can I Take Care of Myself?
Usually nothing needs to be done. You many find that some tasks are frustrating such as:
- Judging traffic lights
- Reading test strips or identifying other chemical reactions
- Coloring with markers or crayons
- Matching clothes
- Reading color-coded maps or weather charts
- Knowing if fruits are ripe or if meat is rare or well done
In some cases, a colorblind person may need to avoid careers that require excellent color vision. However, there are many colorblind electricians who can easily work with multi-colored wires. Most of the time you can learn to adjust by using other cues such as looking for the position of the light on a traffic signal rather than the color or looking for subtle color differences (red may appear darker than green). Parents may need to give their colorblind child more assistance picking out clothes until the child can learn how to match colors.
Why Choose Kirk Eye Center for Color Blindness Care
Kirk Eye Center has proudly served Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, and the greater Northern Colorado region with comprehensive ophthalmology and optometry services since 1991. Led by Dr. John Kirk, a Board Certified Ophthalmologist and Colorado native, our practice is rooted in a deep commitment to the community. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Kirk brings extensive expertise in diagnosing and treating eye conditions. His progressive approach ensures that patients benefit from the most up-to-date treatments and technologies, all delivered with a personalized touch.
Our fully licensed and accredited outpatient surgery center, conveniently located within our facility, is equipped with advanced technology to provide exceptional care under one roof. This approach reduces the need for multiple appointments at different locations, making your care more efficient and cost-effective. At Kirk Eye Center, you’ll receive compassionate, patient-focused attention, with Dr. Kirk and his team taking the time to understand your needs and develop treatment plans to ensure the best outcomes. Whether you’re managing color blindness or another vision condition, we are dedicated to providing care that exceeds your expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How common is color blindness?
Color blindness impacts roughly one in 12 men and one in 200 women worldwide, making it more common in males.
Can color blindness be treated or cured?
There is no known cure for inherited color blindness, but specialized glasses or contact lenses can sometimes improve color perception. For acquired color blindness, addressing the underlying condition may help.
Can I take a color blindness test online?
Online color blindness tests like the Ishihara test are available, but they are not as accurate as in-office testing by an eye care professional.
Is color blindness testing available for children?
Yes, color blindness testing is available for children and can be conducted as part of a routine eye exam.
How can I adjust my home environment for color blindness?
Use high-contrast colors, clear labeling, and texture differences to help distinguish between items. Try not to rely solely on color to convey information.
How can teachers help students who are color blind?
Teachers can use visual aids with patterns or text labels, avoid color-dependent instructions, and create an inclusive environment by being mindful of color-blind-friendly materials.
Is color blindness considered a disability under the law?
Color blindness is not usually considered a disability under most legal definitions but may qualify for workplace accommodations in specific circumstances.
What are the implications of color blindness in the workplace?
Color blindness can impact careers requiring accurate color recognition, such as graphic design, electrical work, or certain roles in transportation. Employers can provide accommodations to mitigate challenges.
Can color blindness affect driving?
Color blindness can make it harder to distinguish traffic signals, but most individuals adapt by learning the position and patterns of lights.
Can color blindness cause any other health concerns?
Color blindness itself does not directly cause other health concerns. However, it can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying health condition, such as:
- Eye Diseases: Conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy can impair color vision.
- Neurological Disorders: Color vision deficiencies may be linked to neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) or optic neuritis.
- Medications or Toxins: Certain drugs (e.g., some used for treating heart conditions, seizures, or mental health disorders) or exposure to toxic chemicals can affect color perception.
- Aging: While not a direct cause of illness, age-related changes in the eye can lead to color vision difficulties and may coincide with other age-related health issues.
Although color blindness typically does not cause physical health problems, it can have emotional and psychological effects, particularly if it impacts a person’s ability to perform daily tasks or pursue specific careers. Early support and accommodations can help mitigate these challenges.
What is monochromacy?
Monochromacy, total color blindness, is a condition where a person cannot perceive color. Vision is only shades of gray, black, and white due to the absence or dysfunction of all three cone cell types in the retina.
What is protanopia?
Protanopia is a red-green color blindness where the red cone cells are absent, making distinguishing between red and green hues difficult. Reds may appear darker or indistinguishable from greens.
What is deuteranopia?
Deuteranopia is a red-green color blindness, but the green cone cells are absent in this case. This results in a reduced ability to differentiate between red and green hues.
What is tritanopia?
Tritanopia is a form of blue-yellow color blindness caused by the absence of blue cone cells. Individuals with this condition struggle to differentiate between blues, greens, and yellows.
What is tritanomaly?
Tritanomaly is a mild form of blue-yellow color blindness where the blue cone cells function abnormally. This causes difficulties in distinguishing subtle differences between blue and green tones.
What is protanomaly?
Protanomaly is a mild form of red-green color blindness where the red cone cells function abnormally. This results in red hues appearing less vibrant or more similar to green shades.
What is deuteranomaly?
Deuteranomaly is the most common color blindness and mild red-green color blindness. In this condition, green cone cells function abnormally, making distinguishing between red and green tones harder.
How does total color blindness differ from partial color blindness?
Total color blindness, or monochromacy, means a person cannot perceive colors, only shades of gray. Partial color blindness, such as red-green or blue-yellow color blindness, means a person has difficulty distinguishing specific color ranges but can still see some colors.
How early can color blindness be detected?
Color blindness can be detected as early as three to five years old when children begin to identify and name colors. Specialized tests, such as the Ishihara test, can help diagnose color blindness at an early age.
How can parents support a child with color blindness?
- Teaching them alternative ways to identify colors, such as using labels or patterns.
- Informing teachers and caregivers about the condition to provide appropriate accommodations.
- Encouraging the child's strengths and talents in areas not affected by color vision.
Schedule A Color Blind Test Today
For more information about adjusting your vision to accommodate color blindness, please contact Kirk Eye Center online or call (970) 669 - 1107 today. Our office serves patients from Fort Collins, Windsor and other communities near Loveland.