Color Blindness Causes

The other names used to describe color blindness are abnormal color vision and color vision problem. Color blindness is a form of genetic disorder because of which a person is unable to detect certain colors or fails to distinguish between some colors. The severity of symptoms often varies from person to person. Usually, the colors that people with color blindness are unable to see are red and green. These colors appear to them as shades of brown. In some people, blue color vision may also get affected. Most of these people can see a few of the other colors. It is rarely found that a person's black or white vision is affected. Apart from the genetic factor, there are some color blindness causes. In other words, some people are born with this defect and others may develop it in a later stage of life. In some acquired color blindness cases, the problem may affect just one eye only.

What Causes Color Blindness?

The human eye can see colors with the help of specialized cells called photoreceptors which are present in the retina. There are two different forms of photoreceptors: rods and cones. Rods are responsible for vision in dim light and they cannot distinguish between various colors. It is the cones which contain certain pigments which respond to colors. The pigments interpret the colors and send signals to the brain accordingly and thus provide us with color vision. People with color blindness have fewer number of these cones. As a result, the existing cones fails to identify the variations of wavelengths of some of the colors and are unable to send the right signal to the brain. This results in color blindness.

A number of factors can be held responsible for this kind of color vision problem. Some of the key causes have been explained below:

Genetic Defect: Most of the types of color vision is hereditary and is owing to defect in a particular gene carried by X-chromosomes. For this reason, color blindness is more commonly found in men than in women. However, the genes are carried by the females. In other words, males get the defective gene responsible for causing color blindness from their mothers.

Parkinson's Disease: This is a neurological disorder where the nerves of the body stop functioning properly. Due to Parkinson's disease, the light sensitive nerve cells present in the retina get damaged and lead to abnormal color vision.

Cataract: In this condition, the natural lens of the eyes become cloudy and the color vision get affected and it becomes less bright. Thus the person cannot see colors properly. However, color vision can be restored with the help of cataract surgery where the natural lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens.

Other Diseases: Disease like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, leukemia, sickle cell anemia, Alzheimer's can lead to degeneration of color vision. Eye problems like glaucoma weaken the color detection ability of the eyes. Alcoholism, damage in the retinal cells due to aging and injury are some other health conditions where color vision can get affected.

Color Blindness Treatment

Till date, there is no cure for color blindness. Research is going on to find out if gene therapy can be used for treatment. However, there is no concrete evidence that can suggest that it can be used to cure color vision problems in humans. There are some coping strategies that can be used to help the person with color blindness lead a relatively normal life despite the visual defect. Special lenses which can be used in the form of contact lenses or glasses are available which when used can bring about improvement in color perception. Use of dark glasses side shields have found to have brought about a better vision in those who are unable to see any colors at all. If it is diagnosed at an early stage, certain training in schools can help the children to deal with color blindness in a better manner and the child can learn about colors.

Whatever the causes, one can cope with the deficiency without much trouble. This is more because that usually have normal vision otherwise. However, they cannot take up occupations that involve handling of various colors and require proper color perception. These include policemen, firemen, medical professional, etc.