New Delhi: Colour blindness is a condition that makes one’s life quite difficult. People who have this condition find it difficult to differentiate between colours in normal light. In India, the incidence of Colour blindness in men stands at about 8 per cent and in women, it is less than 1 per cent. Colour blindness is non-reversible however it depends upon an underlying cause. Let’s understand whether colour blindness is reversible.
What is colour blindness?
Dr Sakshi Lalwani, Consultant Ophthalmologist, explained, “Inherited colour vision deficiency represents a group of conditions that affect the perception of colour. The most common cause is genetic which is linked to the affected X chromosome. People who are affected have problems in differentiating between some shades of red, yellow, and green. Blue-yellow colour vision defects (also called Tritan defects), which are rare, cause problems in differentiating shades of blue and green and also cause difficulty distinguishing dark blue from black. These usually do not get worse over time. These two forms of colour vision deficiencies disrupt colour perception but do not alter the sharpness of vision (visual acuity).”
Red-Green colour vision defects:
Red-green colour vision problems are the most common kind of colour vision deficiency. The defect affects males more than females.
According to Dr Lalwani, “People with deuteranomaly and protanomaly (partial red-green colour blindness) are collectively known as red-green colour blind and they generally have difficulty distinguishing between reds, greens, browns and oranges.”
“Blue-yellow colour vision deficiency (Tritan defects) is rare and affects the perception of blue and green shades. It can cause difficulty distinguishing dark blue from black and may lead to confusion between some blues and purples.”
Causes of colour vision deficiency:
1. Retinal Dystrophies: These are eye conditions that affect the retina, which is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, Examples, are rod-cone dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, cone-rod dystrophy, Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA), and congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB).
2. Optic Nerve Disorders: Issues due to inflammation, trauma, infiltration, nutritional deficiencies, or hereditary factors.
3. Congenital Cataracts: Particularly in patients with rubella syndrome and salt-and-pepper retinopathy, affecting colour vision.
4. Oculocutaneous and Ocular Albinism: Conditions that can lead to very low contrast sensitivity, high refractive errors, photophobia, night blindness, and abnormal eye movements such as squinting.
Importance of early eye examination
“Looking at overall visual milestones achievement, a complete eye examination of a child at an early age is important. Not every eye movement disorder is associated with colour vision deficiency. To support the diagnosis of many inherited conditions, a series of eye tests are to be performed given the age and presentation of a child,” Dr Lalwani.
Management and treatment
For example, if an inflammation or a mild trauma to your nerve of the eye is taken care of in time it can help you to regain some amount of ability of contrast sensitivity, but the inherited dystrophies or CV defects cannot be reversed. Depending upon the grade of CV deficit eye hospitals have certain glasses, contact lenses, and filters which can make the patient comfortable and have a close to normal life.
In India, the incidence of Colour blindness in men stands at about 8 per cent and in women, it is less than 1 per cent. Colour blindness is non-reversible however it depends upon an underlying cause. Let’s understand whether colour blindness is reversible. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
