Buying guide for best color blindness correction glasses
Color blindness correction glasses allow those with color blindness to adjust the way colors are perceived. Different types of color blindness call for different corrective glasses, so it’s important to understand your impairment before purchasing a pair of color blindness correction glasses.
Once you know what type of color blindness you are affected by, you should have an idea of when and where you will wear your glasses most. Some glasses are designed for indoor use, while others are slightly tinted and are best suited to the outdoors. If you plan to wear your correction glasses over prescription glasses, you should look for a pair specifically designed for this purpose. You should also find a pair of glasses with a frame style that suits you.
What is color blindness?
Color blindness is a condition that prevents you from seeing colors accurately. There may be certain colors that you can’t tell apart. Both eyes are typically affected, and it’s a lifelong condition that cannot be permanently reversed.
The inability to see colors normally occurs because cones in the retina which detect color aren’t present, don’t function properly, or misinterpret one color as another. Color blindness can occur if there is an issue with one or more cones.
- If three cones are missing or not working properly, the affected person will have severe color blindness.
- If all three cones are present but one doesn’t function properly, the affected person will have mild color blindness.
With mild color blindness, you may be able to see colors normally in bright lighting but have difficulty telling them apart in low lighting. Severe color blindness usually means you can’t tell certain colors apart no matter how good the lighting is.
The most severe form of color blindness causes you to see everything in shades of gray. This is extremely rare.
Types of color blindness
There are two main types of color blindness: red-green and blue-yellow.
Red-green color blindness
Red-green color blindness is the most common type. Either the red cone or the green cone is affected, so the ability to perceive either red or green is affected. If the red cone is the problem, you may see red, orange, or yellow shades as greener than they actually are and colors in general as dull. Or, you may see red shades as black and some yellow, orange, and green shades as yellower than they actually are.
If the green cone is the problem, you may see green and yellow shades as redder than they really are and be unable to distinguish purple from blue. Or, you may see green shades as beige and red shades as yellowish brown.
Blue-yellow color blindness
Blue-yellow color blindness doesn’t occur as often as red-green color blindness. The cones that perceive blue are affected, so blue shades appear greener than they really are, and you may have difficulty distinguishing yellow and red from pink. In other cases, yellow shades may look purple or gray.
Color correction type
In order for color blindness correction glasses to be effective, they must address the type of color blindness that you have. Most glasses are designed to correct red-green color blindness. There are a wide variety of options to choose from. If you suffer from blue-yellow color blindness, however, there aren’t as many options on the market.
Before you buy a pair of color blindness correction glasses, be sure to read the manufacturer’s product specifications. You want to make sure the glasses will correct the type of color blindness you have.
FAQ
Q. How do color blindness correction glasses work?
A. Color blindness affects the way the cones in your retina perceive wavelengths of light. In turn, your ability to differentiate between certain colors is impaired. Color blindness correction glasses have tinted lenses that can remove certain wavelengths of light, so you can distinguish between colors more easily.
As mentioned above, not all color blindness correction glasses work on all types of color blindness. Specific wavelengths must be removed to address your specific color vision issues.
Q. Do color blindness correction glasses work instantly?
A. It can actually take some time for your eyes to adjust to the lenses. Give yourself at least 10 minutes to adjust to the darker tint of the glasses; don’t remove them as your eyes adjust. To become fully adjusted to the glasses, some manufacturers recommend wearing them for at least 10 hours in a variety of lighting situations over the course of one to two weeks.
Q. Are there any side effects from wearing color blindness correction glasses? A. You shouldn’t experience any side effects from using color blindness correction glasses. If you notice that you’re getting a headache or experiencing eye strain, it may be a sign that you need an update to your vision prescription. Consult an eye care professional to make sure you’re using the appropriate glasses for your vision issues.
