Color Blindness

People who are color blind see colors differently than other people. Color blindness usually refers to a color deficiency where it’s difficult to distinguish between different colors. True color blindness, when one can only see black and white, as the term connotes, is extremely rare. The most common type of color blindness in the inability to see the difference between shades of red or green. For example, people with red/green color deficiency will have a difficult time distinguishing between blue and purple because they can’t see the red element which is part of the purple hue.

Color blindness is usually an inherited condition and is much more common in males than it is in females. Approximately five to 8% of men have color blindness while in women it’s only around half to 1%. We have certain light sensitive cells at the back of our eyes known as photoreceptors. There are two types of photoreceptors; rods and cones. The rods are responsible for helping us see in the dark while the cones are responsible for color vision and seeing in daylight. If someone is color blind there are certain deficiencies with the function of the cones.

If you think you have color blindness, please Book an Appointment to see Dr. Ikeda who will be happy to check your ability to perceive colors. People who are color blind tend to adjust and don’t have issues with daily tasks and activities.

If you were born being able to see the full range of colors and then either over time or suddenly you notice difficulty in distinguishing colors, please Book an Appointment with Dr. Ikeda as this could be a sign of an underlying condition such as cataract.

Symptoms

You may notice on your own that you’re getting confused between colors or the people around you may tell you that the color which you think you are seeing is actually wrong. If this sounds familiar to your experience then there’s a chance that you may have color blindness.

Color blindness does not usually manifest as only being able to see in black and white. There are different types of color blindness depending on which colors the person has difficulty with and also the amount of colors that are deficient. Usually people with this condition can’t distinguish between certain colors such as red and green. In addition, colors appear to be washed out and are hard to differentiate.

Color blindness can also develop over time or suddenly, as opposed to being a condition from birth. Acquired color blindness could be caused due to:

An optic nerve disease - the optic nerve connects the back of the eye to the brain
A stroke inside the eye which occurs due to blocked arteries of the eye
Eye diseases such as cataract or macular degeneration
Some medications
Various toxic chemicals

There’s no way to prevent or treat color blindness from birth, but the good news is that it’s almost always considered to be a mild condition and it should not affect your day to day functionality. There are special glasses or contact lenses that can help with color blindness. If a person was not born with color blindness but acquired it over time then your eye doctor will treat the underlying cause.

Common Questions

What Types Of Color Blindness Exist?

There are many different types of color blindness, depending on which specific colors and the amount of colors cannot be perceived properly. The main categories are Deuteranomaly - reduced sensitivity to green light; this is the most common type, Protanomaly - reduced sensitivity to red light, and Tritanomaly - reduced sensitivity to blue light; this is very rare

How Is Color Blindness Diagnosed?

If you think you have color blindness, make sure to Book an Appointment with Dr. Ikeda who can diagnose the condition. The eye doctor will perform a color perception test, known as the Ishihara test. You will be shown a page that has different colorful dots on it and camouflaged in the colors will be a colorful number or shape that you will be asked to identify. Someone who is not color blind will have an easier time identifying the number or shape on the page, whereas a person with color blindness will have a much harder time finding the number or shape amongst the other colors on the page.

Can a person be colorblind in only one eye?

Both yes and no. Typically, males with genetic color blindness, which is estimated to be 8% of all males, cannot have color blindness in only one eye. It is possible, however, that a genetic or acquired disorder of the optic nerve and/or macula can decrease the color vision in one eye.

Summary

Color blindness occurs when a person doesn’t see colors like most people do. It doesn’t usually affect daily functionality as most people with this condition adapt. If you think you have color blindness, you can Book an Appointment with Dr. Ikeda. You can schedule an eye exam with our eye doctor by calling (562) 925-6591. Patients searching for advanced medical eye care visit our clinic from all over California, and we are proud to be a leading provider of medical eye care services for patients from Bellflower, Long Beach, Lakewood, and Los Angeles.

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I haven't actually used the optometrist side, so my review is limited to the vision therapy offered. This office was recommended by my occupational therapist for the treatment of my double vision following a stroke.

Claire A.

Love this location. I had a brain injury accident from day one one. All the team make you feel you still important and hope in the horizon after when the medical system fell you miserably. Dr. Ikeda very professional and very understanding about your issue. Two tombs up.

Jim K.

My husband and I were immediately impressed with Dr Ikeda. I was hit by a car while cycling which caused broken bones and three brain injuries. The brain injuries caused double vision. Dr. Ikeda examined my eyes and got me started on vision therapy with his occupational therapist who specializes in vision therapy. She (Chris) is absolutely great. I am impressed with the array of tools used to help recover my binocular vision. I am doing things I never thought were possible (balance boards etc). Chris pushes me and keeps me motivated. I really enjoy my sessions with her. The office staff is always friendly and they have a wonderful appointment reminder tool that makes it easy to keep my calendar up to date. I am happy the rehab center at Little Co. of Mary recommended them!!

Teresa S.

The Vision Therapy is handled in a separate office through a different door from the shared waiting room. Chris, the vision therapist, has a wide and varied assortment of tools, equipment and resources to best evaluate and treat most vision issues. After just a few visits, my double vision became easier to control, using exercises developed during the therapy process. It was time well-spent.

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I have been coming here since I can remember. I love it here. The staff is so amazing and nice. They explain everything they gonna do and never make you feel rushed. Dr. Ikeda has always been my doctor and I would never want another one. He is the doctor for my whole family and is always asking how everyone is doing. I am also so crazy about picking out my frames and have to try so many and each person who helps me take the time and lets me try them all on. I would never want to go anywhere else! I definitely would recommend this office to anyone looking for a great eye doctor.

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This is not for the eye exam but for the frames selection portion. I brought my prescription from Kaiser here with my VSP insurance. The reception staff was very polite and professional. Manny helped me to pick out frames and explain my coverage. Very helpful and patient not like the individual at the other place I rated here on Yelp. I was running late and he still helped me and was not bothered at all. I am so glad I came here ..........very pleased.

Very professional staff and pleasant.