Color Blindness
Name Origin:
Color blindness was named as such because those effected by it are unable to see the difference between different hues. Although the name might suggest that those affected are entirely blind to any sort of color, many of those affected are able to see color, they just aren't able to see the difference between certain colors. On the other hand, achromatopsia, one type of color blindness, causes those affected to be unable to see any color at all; they see everything as shades of gray.
Causes:
Color blindness is a recessive X-linked genetic problem, occurring in males much more commonly than females.
It is caused when there is a problem with the color-sensing pigments inside the affected person's eye. Different pigments cause different problems when they are missing. The most common type of color blindness, caused by one pigment missing, is being unable to tell the difference between red and green. Another type of color blindness, caused by a different pigment missing, is being unable to tell the difference between blue and yellow. People with this form of color blindness often have red-green color blindness as well.
A drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Plaquenil, can also cause color blindness.
It is caused when there is a problem with the color-sensing pigments inside the affected person's eye. Different pigments cause different problems when they are missing. The most common type of color blindness, caused by one pigment missing, is being unable to tell the difference between red and green. Another type of color blindness, caused by a different pigment missing, is being unable to tell the difference between blue and yellow. People with this form of color blindness often have red-green color blindness as well.
A drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Plaquenil, can also cause color blindness.
Effects:
Of course, color blindness causes the inability to distinguish between colors. This can cause hardships in daily life, as color-blind people may have trouble getting jobs as electricians (color coded wires), fashion designers, painters, and cooks (using the color of the meat to know when it's done). They may also have trouble driving, because of stoplights being color-coded.
There are several effects of color blindness that don't always occur. One effect of color blindness can be severe light sensitivity, which means it is very painful to your eyes to be in bright light. Another is lazy eye, or amblyopia, where one of your eyes does not look at things or cooperate with the other eye as it normally would. The other two possible effects of color blindness are extremely poor vision and jerky, unexpected eye movement. Most of these only occur in people with achromatopsia.
There are several effects of color blindness that don't always occur. One effect of color blindness can be severe light sensitivity, which means it is very painful to your eyes to be in bright light. Another is lazy eye, or amblyopia, where one of your eyes does not look at things or cooperate with the other eye as it normally would. The other two possible effects of color blindness are extremely poor vision and jerky, unexpected eye movement. Most of these only occur in people with achromatopsia.
Treatments:
There is no known treatment for color blindness. There are some eye wear products -- glasses and contacts -- that may help people with color blindness with the ability to distinguish between different colors, but they don't work for everyone. People affected by color blindness have to do their best to learn to adapt to their inability to distinguish between colors in their every day life.