Colour vision deficiency

Issues for people with a colour vision deficiency

Colour vision deficiency isn't usually anything to be concerned about. Most people get used to it over time, it won't normally get any worse and it's rarely a sign of anything serious.

However, it can sometimes cause issues such as:

difficulty at schoolif colours are used to help with learning
problems with food, such as identifying whether meat is fully cooked or whether fruit is ripe
getting medications confused if they're not clearly labelled
troubleidentifying safety warnings or signs
slightly limited career choices certain jobs, such aspilots, train drivers, electricians and air traffic controllers, may require accurate colour recognition

Overall,many peoplewith a colour vision deficiency have few, if any, difficulties. They can domostnormalactivities, including driving.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for colour vision deficiency

Introduction

Find about colour vision deficiency and colour blindness, including how to get tested, why it happens, what problems it may cause and what can be done about it.

Types and symptoms of colour vision deficiency

Most peoplewithcolour vision deficiency have difficulty distinguishing between shades of red, yellow and green. This is known as "red-green" colour vision deficiency.It's a common problem that affect

T ests for colour vision deficiency

Ask for a colour vision test at an opticians if you think you or your child may have a colour vision deficiency particularly if it started suddenly or is getting worse. Colour vision tests don't usua

Issues for people with a colour vision deficiency

Colour vision deficiency isn't usually anything to be concerned about. Most people get used to it over time, it won't normally get any worse and it's rarely a sign of anything serious. However, it ca

Treating and living with a colour vision deficiency

There's currently no cure for inherited colour vision deficiency, although most people are able to adapt to it over time. It may help to: tell your child's school if they have problems with their c

Causes ofcolour vision deficiency

Inthe vast majorityof cases, colour vision deficiency iscaused by a genetic fault passed on to a child by their parents (see below). It occurs because some of thecolour sensitive cells in the eyes, c

How colour vision deficiency is inherited

Thegenetic fault that usually causes colour vision deficiencyis passed on in what's known as an X-linked inheritance pattern . This means: it mainly affects boys, but can affect girls in some cases

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