What is colorblindness?
Colorblindness is a genetic disorder in which the person affected is
unable to differentiate specific colors. The most repeated form of this deficiency, about 99%, is red-green
colorblindness meaning that the person affected is unable to distinguish between these two colors. Blue-yellow
colorblindness also exists, but is rare. With total colorblindness, an extremely rare condition, an individual
only sees shades of gray. Colorblindness is found in about one in every ten men and one in every hundred women.
How is colorblindness inherited?
Colorblindness is a sex-linked recessive disorder
meaning it is inherited on the X chromosome (the twenty-third chromosome). Because men only have one X chromosome and
women have two, men are more likely to inherit this deficiency. Often women can pass along the recessive allele
to their sons. For a woman to have colorblindness she could have a father who is affected and a mother who is affected,
or she could have a father who is affected and a mother who is a carrier. For a man to have colorblindness he would
have to have either a mother who is affected or a carrier and/or a father who is colorblind.
What are some symptoms of colorblindness?
A symptom
of colorblindness is not being able to distinguish certain colors from others. Colorblindness is often initially
noticed in childhood. For instance, red-green colorblindness can be detected when a child can not identify the difference
between a red and green marker.
What are
some treatments for colorblindness?
There is not a specific cure for colorblindness
but advances have been made to help people affected by colorblindness with their daily lives. For example, people that
live with this disorder can wear a red-tinted contact lens in their dominant eye. This development can enable people
affected by colorblindness to pass a colorblind exam for a certain job. Also, computer programs have been created
that care to the needs of a colorblind person. For example, imagine a picture of an apple on the computer screen.
Instead of the apple being colored with red, the inside of the apple would simply read "red". In addition to these advances,
genectic research is currently being done to help find a cure for this disorder.
How is colorblindness diagnosed?
A common device used by eye doctors to test for colorblindness is the Ishihara color test plate. Each test
plate is an arrangement of distinct and various colored dots with a pattern, such as a letter or number. The type
of colorblindness a person has can often be determined by which patterns can and can't be seen in the various
plates used for the test.
What is the prognosis of colorblindness?
Unfortunately, there
is no cure for colorblindness. The level at which the person is affected from birth remains constant throughout their
lives. Their ability to determine colors will neither get better nor worse. Most individuals with this
genetic disorder are able to adjust without difficulty or disability in their daily lives.
What is the lifespan of an individual with colorblindness?
Colorblindness does
not affect the lifespan of an individual.
Where can I donate to fund a cure for colorblindness?
Genetic research to
cure colorblindness is currently being done at the Eye Institute of the Medical College of Wisonsin. Please help
find a cure by sending a tax deductible donation of $25, $50, $100 or more to the following address:
Medical College of Wisconsin
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226
All gifts are greatly appreciated and make a difference!
*Answers from Ishihara color test plates above:
Upper Row: 29,12. Bottom Row: 15,42.
