Color Blindness
John Dalton and Color Blindness
Color Blindness is a disorder that doesn't allow the individual with it to see colors how an every day person can. Color Blindness effects someone when their pigments in the cones their eyes such as one of the pigments missing or the pigment is faulty so, then the colors that the pigment recognize are seen differently. They see the color differently like when we see black they might see dark blue. Also the most severe kind is called achromatopisa where all of the pigments are missing.However even though they can't tell the difference between colors it isn't actual blindness. John Dalton described his Color Blindness in 1794 which makes him the original discoverer. Still no one believed him because it hadn't been noticed before until they observed his eyes after John's death. *Picture of John Dalton thinking above.*
Color Blindness's Genetics
Color Blindness is a Single Gene Mutation that is on the X Chromosome that is caused usually by your mother and her Genetics since it is a sex-linked trait. Also it is more common in males though because they have one X Chromosome and females have 2. Which leads to the boys having a 1 in 12 chance to have the disorder while the odds are 1 to 250 for girls. However the chance of having achromatopisa is 1 in 33,000 people. *Genetic's Chart for a child's genetics when their mother is Color Blind at the top.*
Life Expectancy and Side Effects
The life expectancy of a person isn't impacted by having Color Blindness. However people are impacted by the effects of having Color Blindness they can't distinguish color especially red and green or blue and yellow. Also the blue and yellow blindness is more rare than the red and green blindness. Also people with Color Blindness usually have poor vision since they don't have the pigments so they need glasses or contacts in most cases.*Picture above shows the difference between people with and without Color Blindness at the top right.*
Diagnostic tests
When you are being tested to see if you have Color Blindness you will be asked about your medical history and symptoms you have had recently. Then you will be asked to take a eye and vision test. Which is usually followed by being referred to and an ophthalmologist (eye specialist), who will usually have you take a Ishihara Plate Test and/or an arrangement test such as a Farnsworth 100-Hue test to make sure if are actually Color Blind.
Ishihara Plate Test
Farnsworth 100-Hue Test
Color Blindness Support Group
Treatment and Help Groups
There is no existing treatment for inherited Color Blindness, so most people with it most of the time just learn how to adapt and learn the difference between colors. They can also use different types of Color Collective glasses and contacts to make their vision seem normal for certain levels of Color Blindness. However there are medications for acquired Color Blindness that reduce the chances of you becoming Color Blind. Some support groups/ organizations that are helping someone's family or themsleves are the Colour Blind Awareness Group, The National Association for the Advancements of Color Blind People, the National Eye institute, and Prevent Blindness America.