A greater part of the process in which the eyes perceive colour, depends on how healthy the cones are. Cones, located in the retina, are photoreceptor cells which contain pigments that react to a different wavelength of light. In other words, they are responsible for coloured vision.
Unfortunately, not all eyes have healthy cones and, therefore, they face difficulty in colour perception. This condition is described as colour blindness.
Here’s a simple colour blindness test for you; try reading the characters that are hidden in the images:
If you cannot read some or any of the above characters, you may have colour blindness. If you face difficulty in making out the differences between different colours, make sure to get your eyes checked.
A special team of doctors at Disha Eye Hospital could help you get a proper diagnosis of your eye condition. Book an appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.
1) Different types of colour blindness
Did you know that there’s not just one but several types of colour blindness? Yes, the impaired function of the cones’ photopigments in the eyes differ from person to person. Meaning, some people are less sensitive to particular colours.
Some of the most common types of colour blindness include:
- Blue-Yellow Colour Blindness
A type that occurs when the blue photopigments in the cones do not function properly. Blue-Yellow Colour Blindness can also occur if the blue cone photopigments are missing. This type of colour blindness affects men as well as women.
- Red-Green Colour Blindness
Red-Green Colour Blindness occurs when the red and green cones do not work partially or fully. The two common types of Red-Green Colour Blindness include Protanomaly and Deuteranomaly.
- Complete Color Blindness
People with complete colour blindness see limited or no colour at all. There are two types of complete colour blindness: Rod monochromacy and Cone monochromacy.
2) Causes of colour blindness
It’s common for the inherited genes to cause functional impairment of the photopigments in the cones which, in turn, leads to the limited perception of colours. Apart from the genes, other causes that lead to colour blindness are:
- Age
- Cataracts
- Optic nerve damage
- Physical injury to the eyes
3) Risk factors for colour blindness
There are several factors that increase the risk of colour blindness; these include:
- Macular Degeneration
- Diabetes
- Glaucoma
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Leukaemia
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Regular alcohol consumption
4) Treatment for colour blindness
There’s no ultimate treatment for colour blindness. Often, eye doctors choose eyeglasses and contact lens with filters as the treatment option to adjust colour deficiencies. These eyeglasses and contact lenses can make up for colour blindness by adjusting the contrast between different colours.
Visit Disha Eye Hospital for high-quality and affordable eye care
Disha Eye Hospitals provide the best eye treatments such as LASIK, vitrectomy, and cataract surgery in the city. The doctors are well trained in advanced medical technologies, and provide treatment for major eye problems, including Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Uveitis, Squint, Refraction errors and corneal diseases.