Do you see colors differently than others? Let's talk about color blindness!

Does your little one color the sky green and the trees blue when drawing? Do you sometimes get confused when you go to a store and can't distinguish between two colors of clothing? Or do you have difficulty distinguishing between a ripe mango and an unripe mango? These things may not be just ordinary mistakes. Today we are talking about a condition called "color blindness", which is common among many people in society, especially among men, but is not talked about much.

Simply put, what is color blindness?

When we hear the word "color blindness," we think of someone who can't see any colors, seeing the world in black and white. But it's actually a very rare condition. In medical terms, we call this Color Vision Deficiency . It's not that you can't see colors at all, but that you see colors differently than a normal person. To be precise, there's a slight difference in the way your eyes perceive colors.

This becomes clearer if we understand a little about how we see colors.

The process of seeing something is very complex. Our eyes and brain work together to do this. In the retina, at the back of our eyes, there are special types of nerve cells that are sensitive to light. We call these photoreceptors. There are two types of these.

1. Rods: These help us see things in low light, that is, in the dark.

2. Cones: These are the heroes of our story. These cone cells help us distinguish and recognize colors.

These cone cells are also divided into three main types. Each type is sensitive to one primary color.

• Red-sensitive cones (L cones)
• Green-sensitive cones (M cones)
• Blue-sensitive cones (S cones)

Imagine you are a painter. If you have three colors, red, green, and blue, you can mix them together to make any color you want. In the same way, our eyes collect information from these three cone cells and send it to the brain to determine the color of an object. Color blindness occurs when one or more of these cone cells are missing from birth, or if they do not function properly.

What are the main types of color blindness?

Color blindness can be divided into several types depending on the type of cone cells you have that are missing or not working properly. This may seem a bit complicated, but this table will help you understand it more easily.

What are the symptoms of this condition?

It is difficult for someone born with this condition to realize that there is something different about them. Because they have seen the world that way since childhood. It is normal for them. Often, they do not know that they have this condition until they are examined by an ophthalmologist.

The symptoms that are usually seen are:

• Difficulty distinguishing and recognizing certain colors (e.g., red and green, blue and purple, green and brown).
• The brightness or depth of colors may not be seen accurately.
• Difficulty distinguishing between different shades of the same color (e.g., light green and dark green).

Do you have any doubts about your child?

A young child may not be able to talk about changes in their vision, so it's important for you as a parent to be aware of these signs.

• Dislikes coloring and drawing tasks: He may avoid these tasks because he has difficulty recognizing colors.
• Using the wrong colors: Using unnatural colors, such as making the sky green and the grass blue.
• Smelling food before eating: Sometimes you can't tell if a food is fresh, old, or ripe by its color, so you can get used to smelling it.
• When asked to sort toys or blocks by color, he has difficulty doing so.

Why does color blindness occur?

There are two main reasons for this.

1. Inherited

This is the most common cause. It is passed down from parents to children genetically. The information needed to develop cone cells in our eyes is contained in our genes. If there is a mutation in these genes, the cone cells may not develop properly or may not function properly. Because the gene for red-green color blindness is located on the X chromosome, this condition is more common in men than in women.

2. Occurring later in life (Acquired)

Sometimes, someone who is born without any problems can develop this condition later in life for some reason. This is when the cone cells are damaged due to damage to the eye, retina, or brain.

• Eye diseases: Conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration.
• Diseases affecting the brain or nervous system.
• Eye injuries: A serious injury to the head or eye.
• Side effects of some medications: Long-term use of some medications can affect the eyes.
• Exposure to chemicals in the environment.

How do you know exactly if you have this condition?

If you suspect that you or your child has this condition, the best thing to do is to see an eye doctor. He or she will do a complete eye exam.

There are special, very simple tests to detect color blindness. You may remember seeing pictures in books where a number or shape is hidden inside a circle made of different colored dots. Tests like these, using cards or a computer screen, can tell you exactly what type of color deficiency you have and how severe it is.

Your child's eyes will be examined by a pediatrician at their regular clinic. They will advise you on the age at which your child should see an ophthalmologist.

Is there a treatment for this?

This is a problem for many people.

However, if the condition is acquired, treatment of the underlying condition (e.g., diabetes, cataracts) can sometimes restore color vision. However, if the damage to the cone cells is permanent, vision may not fully recover.

Nowadays, there are special glasses (color blindness glasses) that help some people see colors more clearly or brightly. But these do not cure the disease. They do not work for everyone. Therefore, if you are considering such a thing, it is imperative to first talk to your eye doctor and get advice on whether it is right for you.

How to live successfully with this situation?

When you find out you have color blindness, you can feel relieved on one hand. "Oh, this is why I get those colors mixed up." But at the same time, you can also feel a little frustrated when you wonder, "Do I see the world differently than other people?" That's normal.

The most important thing is to understand this situation and adapt to it.

• Mild conditions: Most people have mild red-green color blindness that doesn't affect their daily lives. It doesn't prevent them from getting a driver's license or holding a regular job.
• Helping children: If your child has this condition, let their teachers know. Talk about ways to help them with color-related activities at school (e.g., having the color names written on colored pencils).
• Technology helps: Nowadays, there are apps available for smartphones that show the color of an object when you point the camera at it. Things like this can be helpful in everyday life.
• Ask your doctor: Talk openly with your doctor about your condition, what you can do, and your concerns.

Many people live successful, happy lives with color blindness without any problems. All they need to do is be aware of their condition and make small changes to their lives to accommodate it.