What is Color Vision Deficiency?
While it isn’t really surprising that most everyone has heard of color blindness, what may be surprising is to know that very few people are truly color blind.
However, a large percentage of patients do suffer from a condition known as Color Vision Deficiency. The condition is characterized by the inability of the eye to differentiate between various shades of color. In extreme cases of color vision deficiency, some patients aren’t able to see any color at all. This is what is more commonly known as color blindness.
There Are Three Main Types of Color Vision Deficiency
Color vision deficiency is usually divided into three main categories. These three main types are:
- Red-green color vision defects (this is the most common)
- Blue-yellow color vision defects
- Complete lack of color vision (aka – color blindness)
What is Color Vision Correction?
Color vision correction will not give you perfect color vision, but it will enable you to see more colors, shades and hues and will allow you to start to differentiate between them.
Most often color vision correction will:
- Improve your color perception
- Start to make colors brighter, clearer and more distinct
- Allow you to see shades that you never saw before
- Help you start to identify and name colors
- Increase safety (i.e. – will allow you to more easily distinguish traffic lights and brake lights
Color vision correction can be achieved using special corrective contact lenses which are prescribed for each particular patient so that it can help compensate for the missing filters in the eye. These special lenses will allow you to see more colors and shades of colors. It will also make the colors more vivid and distinct so that you’ll be able to easily recognize new colors.
Why is Color Vision Deficiency a Problem?
If you suffer from color vision deficiency, you probably know this all too well. However, for those that don’t struggle with this condition it causes problems with communication and safety.
Think about how many times a day you describe items by color or recognize other people by the color of the clothes they are wearing. Simple directions can become much harder when one person recognize certain landmarks or items because they can’t distinguish which color they are.
Color is also problematic when it comes to personal safety. How will you know when to stop or go if you can’t tell what color the traffic light is?
That’s why correct color identification is so very important and why we strive to help patients who are suffering from color vision deficiency.
How Can I Learn More About Color Vision Correction?
Visit our eye care clinic near Jenkintown, PA for exceptional eye care and a consultation to find out the severity of your color vision deficiency and the solutions that are right for you.
Or, follow this link to the Wall Street Journal which talks about how new technologies are making it easier for people with Color Vision Deficiencies.
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