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.
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.