Colour blindness, or deficient colour vision, is the inability to differentiate between certain colours. Even though this is the most common way to describe it, the true “colour blindness” is a condition in which everything is seen in shades of black and white, but it is very rare. This illness is usually inherited and men are more likely to be born with it. The common form of colour blindness is the one in which people cannot distinguish between shades of red and green, but there is another one in which shades of blue and yellow are mixed up. Defects in perception of these colours can be mild, moderate or severe. Furthermore, certain eye diseases and some medications can cause colour blindness.
You may have a colour vision deficiency and not know it. Some people figure it out when it causes confusion, such as when they cannot differentiate the colours in a traffic light. It is better to see an eye doctor if you suspect that you have problems distinguishing between certain colours or your colour vision changes. It is also important that children get eye exams, including colour vision testing, because there is no cure for inherited colour deficiencies. Nevertheless, if the cause for this is an eye disease, some treatments may improve this condition.