Colour Vision Deficiency

Colour vision deficiency, often called colour blindness, is a reduced ability to tell certain colours apart, most commonly reds and greens.

Common symptoms

Difficulty distinguishing between certain colours (often reds and greens, sometimes blues and yellows), and confusion with colour-coded information.

Description

Colour vision deficiency is usually inherited and caused by differences in the colour-sensing cells of the retina. It is much more common in men than women because the most common forms are linked to the X chromosome.

Most people with colour vision deficiency can see a wide range of colours but struggle to distinguish specific shades. Rarely, it can be acquired later in life as a result of another eye condition, medication, or damage to the optic nerve.

There is no cure for inherited colour vision deficiency, but it usually has limited impact on daily life. Some jobs (for example certain roles in transport and the emergency services) require specific colour vision standards. Specialist tinted lenses can help some people distinguish colours more easily.