Have you ever struggled to tell if something is red or green—or noticed your child mixing up colours? You might be experiencing colour deficiency, commonly referred to as colour blindness.
While often harmless, colour vision deficiency can sometimes impact career choices or daily tasks—and many people don’t even know they have it. Let’s take a look at what colour deficiency really means, what causes it, and how an optometrist can help.
What Is Colour Blindness?
Despite the name, very few people are completely colour blind. Most individuals with colour deficiency can see colours but have difficulty distinguishing between certain shades. The most common type is red-green colour deficiency, which affects how a person sees reds, greens, and yellows—especially when those colours are similar in brightness.
There’s also a blue-yellow deficiency, which is much rarer and affects the ability to tell the difference between blues and greens, or between dark blue and black.
How Does Colour Deficiency Work?
Colour vision relies on cones—light-sensitive cells in the retina that detect red, green, or blue wavelengths of light. When these cones are missing or malfunctioning, the brain doesn’t receive accurate colour information. This mismatch can make it hard to tell certain colours apart.
In most cases, colour deficiency is inherited and present from birth. However, it can also be caused by:
- Eye diseases like glaucoma or macular degeneration
- Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Eye or brain injuries
- Certain medications or chemical exposure
How Common Is Colour Deficiency?
In Australia, around 8% of males and 0.5% of females are affected by some form of colour deficiency. This gender difference is due to genetics—specifically, a gene carried on the X chromosome.
How Is It Diagnosed?
optometry@cooroy can determine whether someone has a colour deficiency. One common test uses pseudoisochromatic plates—images made of coloured dots that form a number or shape. If you can’t see the image clearly (or at all), it may indicate a colour vision issue.
At optometry@cooroy, we can assess the type and severity of your colour deficiency, and guide you on how to manage it in everyday life.
Is There a Treatment?
Currently, there’s no cure for genetic colour deficiency. Some people find tinted glasses or contact lenses helpful, but they don’t restore full colour perception. If colour vision loss is caused by an illness or injury, treating the underlying condition may help.
Most people with colour deficiency adapt well. Simple strategies like relying on the position of traffic lights (instead of colour), or using patterns and labels instead of colour coding, can make a big difference.
Does Colour Deficiency Affect Work?
For most people, colour blindness doesn’t interfere with everyday life. However, it can impact certain careers where accurate colour perception is essential, such as:
- Pilots
- Electricians
- Graphic designers or visual artists
- Laboratory or technical roles involving colour-coded systems
Some of these professions may require colour vision testing before you can qualify for work.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you (or your child) might have colour blindness—especially if you’ve had trouble identifying colours—it’s worth booking an eye test. Knowing your colour vision status can help you make informed decisions about your work, safety, and daily life.
Book an Eye Test Today
At optometry@cooroy we offer professional and compassionate care for all vision concerns—including colour deficiency testing.
Contact us today to book your comprehensive eye examination.
Let’s make sure your colour vision isn’t holding you back.
