Color Blindness

[TipsyTraveler]

I’m sure you’ve seen these color-blind tests floating around online before. My 5-year-old son had a pediatrician appointment today and was given a similar test as part of routine screening. He flunked it big time. He apparently has an inherited visual processing disorder that causes color blindness when certain colors are overlaid on one another, although he can see individual colors just fine.

The funny part of this story is that the pediatrician happens to have the exact same disorder, so we had a color-blind doctor giving a color-blind patient a color-blindness test and the whole thing played out like a Monty Python sketch.

“Okay kiddo, can you see a shape in this area? No?” *turns to me* “Is there a shape there?”

“Now how about on this page? Do you see a shape? No?” *turns to me* “Is there a shape there?”

I might have been more concerned about my child’s newly diagnosed disorder had I not been trying so hard to stifle laughter.

(Btw, my son will be just fine. The doctor said his biggest issue will probably be along the lines of not being the first to see the camouflaged animal among the foliage, but recounted how he went on safari a couple years ago and often was the first to see the camouflaged animal, so he thinks the brain probably has ways of compensating.)

 

[NotUrsula]

ALL of the males in my family of origin are colorblind. He'll be fine growing up, but do be aware that color-blindness is a barrier to certain licensed occupations.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

He'll be fine growing up, but do be aware that color-blindness is a barrier to certain licensed occupations.

Interesting, like which ones?

 

[NotUrsula]

Interesting, like which ones?

Sometimes depends on the agency, but the more common ones are pilots, air traffic controllers, graphic designers, firefighters, police officers, divers, and electricians. The USAF Academy won't admit the colorblind (though the USAF itself will accept it for certain specialties). Some jobs will allow you in if you can pass a Farnsworth Lantern test but fail a color plate test.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Sometimes depends on the agency, but the more common ones are pilots, air traffic controllers, graphic designers, firefighters, police officers, divers, and electricians. The USAF Academy won't admit the colorblind (though the USAF itself will accept it for certain specialties). Some jobs will allow you in if you can pass a Farnsworth Lantern test but fail a color plate test.

Aw man, I guess he’ll have to settle for being a pediatrician.

My father was color blind. He was also a cop. Sounds like somewhere along the line someone rightly decided that those allowed to fire weapons onto citizens should at least be able to see what they’re shooting at.

 

[prairie_girl]

I’m colourblind.. the only one I could see was the 8, but could see the 16 when I focused on looking for it. I also have a hard time distinguishing between some shades of pink, orange, and yellow.

Mine is apparently way more common in men that women. I developed it after a had a case of optic neuritis and now have a lesion (scan) on the optic nerve, so it’s not repairable.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

My father and son are both colorblind, as is my father in law. Interestingly enough my dad says he can see the true colors of the objects in black and white tv shows. We were watching Wanda vision together and he was like “her shirts purple snd his is red” and when they changed to color he was right. Also tested him on I love Lucy and I checked color pics online of the set and he was correct. Really odd.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I’m colourblind.. the only one I could see was the 8, but could see the 16 when I focused on looking for it. I also have a hard time distinguishing between some shades of pink, orange, and yellow.

Mine is apparently way more common in men that women. I developed it after a had a case of optic neuritis and now have a lesion (scan) on the optic nerve, so it’s not repairable.

Yes, the doctor said my son’s form of color blindness is usually only found in males. I’m confused though, because he saw this chart after I posted it and was able to see every number on it. I pulled up a few more tests in his supposed “problem colors” of green and brown and he answered every one of them correctly. Maybe he can see the colors better on screen than paper? I dunno, it’s odd.

 

[SirDuff]

Yes, the doctor said my son’s form of color blindness is usually only found in males. I’m confused though, because he saw this chart after I posted it and was able to see every number on it. I pulled up a few more tests in his supposed “problem colors” of green and brown and he answered every one of them correctly. Maybe he can see the colors better on screen than paper? I dunno, it’s odd.

Most types of colour blindness are caused by mutations on the X chromosome and are recessive. Since males only have one X gene, they only need to inherit colourblindness from one parent to be colourblind. For females, they need to inherent mutated genes from both parents (if they only get it from one parent, the « good » version of the gene (i.e. the one on the other X chromosome) is enough to make the needed protein.

So, it is much more common in males than females.

ETA - Totally not helpful to the conversation, I know

 

[prairie_girl]

Most types of colour blindness are caused by mutations on the X chromosome and are recessive. Since males only have one X gene, they only need to inherit colourblindness from one parent to be colourblind. For females, they need to inherent mutated genes from both parents (if they only get it from one parent, the « good » version of the gene (i.e. the one on the other X chromosome) is enough to make the needed protein.

So, it is much more common in males than females.

ETA - Totally not helpful to the conversation, I know

it’s really interesting. No one else in my family is colourblind and mine is solely because of the scab (lesion) on my optic nerve.

 

[SirDuff]

it’s really interesting. No one else in my family is colourblind and mine is solely because of the scab (lesion) on my optic nerve.

I actually didn't realise that that was possible before your post, but it makes sense.

My knowledge is not on colourblindness but on genetics (we often use colourblindness as an example of a sex-linked recessive trait).

 

[RogueX]

My husband has trouble seeing varying shades of green, but otherwise can see other colors.

 

[Miffy]

I know a really famous art critic who's colorblind. Cannot say who this is, since it's supposedly a big secret.

 

[prairie_girl]

I actually didn't realise that that was possible before your post, but it makes sense.

My knowledge is not on colourblindness but on genetics (we often use colourblindness as an example of a sex-linked recessive trait).

I have MS and it was a relapse that caused the damage. I always point out that an orange highlighter and a pink one look almost exactly the same to me.

 

[AppleDumpling]

My son is colorblind. Several years ago (when he was 18 or 19), he got a pair of Enchroma colorblind glasses and they were life-changing for him. He had never seen certain colors, like purple, before and was awed by all the different shades and clarity. I feel sad that he misses out on so much beauty (without the glasses, which work best in bright sunlight).

Of course colorblind people adapt and function fine in most circumstances, but it can affect everyday life in ways most of us never think about. Like when driving, they may not be able to distinguish the colors on a traffic light. DS told me he had never seen the vibrant green color of a green light, that it looks white to him, but he can tell which one is glowing and just knows that red is on top and green on bottom. And driving at night, the green does not stand out as much when surrounded by white street lights.

 

[DisneyHardin]

My son is colorblind. Several years ago (when he was 18 or 19), he got a pair of Enchroma colorblind glasses and they were life-changing for him. He had never seen certain colors, like purple, before and was awed by all the different shades and clarity. I feel sad that he misses out on so much beauty (without the glasses, which work best in bright sunlight).

My cousin's husband is color blind and he go the colorblind glasses a couple years ago and was amazed at what he could see too.

 

[JediBonas]

My son is color blind (when the optometrist was testing him he asked if my dad was color blind as well due to how it's inherited, he sure is!). After reading some of the comments about the glasses I'm tempted to look into them for him, he's red/green color blind and is constantly asking to wear his brown school sweater (which is really maroon, LOL). The doctor also mentioned some jobs he'd be excluded from due to his color blindness, I remember electrician was one.

 

[Mysterian]

My sculpture/pottery teacher was color blind. He was actually a painter before he switched. His paintings were interesting though, providing a view of how color blind people perceive.

 

[TLSnell1981]

DH is colorblind and is never allowed to chose paint colors. One of the first disagreements we had was over the bathroom tile. He insisted it was green but it was taupe. Colors are my thing...every subtle shade. He has me coordinate his clothing too. Otherwise it would all be black and white. Simple things but it has an impact on daily life.

 

[DisneyHardin]

The doctor also mentioned some jobs he'd be excluded from due to his color blindness, I remember electrician was one.

That's interesting. My cousin's husband that I mentioned up thread is an electrician and was one before he got the color blind correction glasses.