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What is Color Blindness?

Color blindness

What is Color Blindness?
Color blindness is also known as color vision deficiency and refers to a condition in which people struggle to see colors in the same way that most people do. Often people with color blindness struggle to differentiate between two colors, for example red and green, although in very rare cases some people do not see color at all and instead see the world in shades of grey.

The ailment is much more common in men than women and unfortunately there is no cure.

Color Blindness Causes
The color blindness causes are either hereditary or due to an underlying health condition. Most people who suffer from color blindness have done so since birth and it is believed that it is an ailment that can be inherited. In these cases, color blindness is either mild or severe but it will not get any worse during your lifetime so long as no other conditions make it so. Health conditions are also linked to color blindness causes and these include:
• Glaucoma
• Diabetes
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Macular Degeneration
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Leukemia
• Alcoholism

Color Blindness Diagnosis
Most people become aware of their color blindness during social situations. For example you may find that your child has difficulty in naming colors or they may struggle to read signs printed in certain colors. Sometimes the deficiency can go undetected for many years however especially if the condition is mild and the child has known nothing else.

If you suspect that you or your child has color blindness the best way to make a diagnosis is by visiting a nurse and going through a color blindness test. The color blindness test could involve trying to read numbers on cards made up of multi-colored dots or trying to spot colors in different lights. If you struggle with the color blindness test it is likely that you are suffering from color blindness and an optician will then examine your eyes for any defects.

Color Blindness Treatment
There is currently no color blindness treatment available and there is no cure for the condition. Color blindness however does not cause any long term health problems and most people who suffer from the condition do not find themselves at much of a disadvantage in life. Most people find a way to work around the condition for example by memorizing the position of traffic lights rather than relying on the colors. The only time color blindness treatment is successful is if the condition was caused by a health condition such as glaucoma which is later cured. In this instance however it is the underlying health condition that is treated rather than color blindness itself.

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