Put your vision benefits to work at America's Best
The first fact to know is that most people who are color blind do actually see some color. Here are answers to common questions about this condition.
Most people who are color blind will only be prevented from seeing certain shades of a color or will recognize certain colors as an incorrect color. It is rare that a color blind person will only be able to see grey, black and white.
Is Color Blindness Genetic?
Most people who are color blind have inherited this and it is present at birth. If this is the case, the condition is not correctable though many can learn to successfully live with this vision impairment. Schoolwork may be more difficult for children and adults may be limited in their job pursuits.
In some cases, color blindness can be the result of another issue of the eye such as glaucoma or cataracts. In this case, if the underlying cause if rectified, normal color vision can often be restored as well.
What Causes Color Blindness?
Color blindness occurs when the there is an issue with the three types of cone cells within the macula that sense red, green and blue colors. If the cone cell is missing, the person won't see that color at all. If something is damaged within the cone cell, the person may only see certain shades of that color or may interpret that color as another such as confusing blue and green.
Will Color Blindness Worsen Over Time?
Color blindness does not get progressively worse over time. It never changes and cannot be corrected. Most people who are color blind have to learn to adapt to a world of color in other ways such as memorizing the order of color on traffic lights.
If you believe you may be color blind, make an appointment for an eye exam today.