MANAGEMENT OF COLOUR VISION DEFICIENCIES

 

Joshua Badejo

Colour Blindness, also known as colour deficiency is when a person cannot see colours as most other people would be able to. A person can be completely colour blind, a condition known as "achromatopsia", a rare, bilateral inherited retinal degeneration affecting all three types of cone photoreceptor cells that results in reduced visual acuity, photophobia, hemeralopia, and severe loss of colour discrimination.

MANAGEMENT

Colour blindness is mostly genetically inherited. The main symptom of colour blindness is difficulty telling colours apart or making mistakes when identifying colours. While there is no cure for color blindness it can be managed. Special glasses and corrective lenses can also help. Few management tips are outlined below: 

SUPPORTIVE MANAGEMENT 

i. In inherited redgreen colour defects We can employ the use of certain aids which may allow recognition of colours in congenital red-green colour blindness. Use of X-chrom/ChromGen contact lens or specially tinted spectacle lens allows recognition by increasing brightness of light of certain wavelengths and suppressing lights of certain wavelengths to create a difference in luminosity. 

ii. In acquired colour defects Management of acquired colour defect is essentially treatment of the causative disorder. It is also worth remembering that the cause is often the side effect of drugs (iatrogenic). 

iii. In congenital rod monochromats, i.e. achromatopsia with diminished visual acuity, low visual aid and suitably tinted glasses are advised.

EARLY DETECTION AND PROPER COUNSELLING 

Individuals with colour blindness are often unaware of this defect, thus early detection is crucial. It can be detected during preemployment check-up and before admission to certain professional. Children might need help attending to class activities, it can also impact on choice of profession, thus suitable counselling regarding future career option is vital. It is reported that some scientists in the US claim that gene therapy might help with inherited colour blindness, although human trials have not been undergone yet.

REFERENCES

°Every day health 

°https://eyewiki.aao.org/Achromatopsia 

°Bikas Bhattacharyya MBBS (Honours), MS, DO, 2009, Textbook of Visual Science and Clinical Optometry.