Thin Lenses for Strong Prescriptions: What You Are Actually Paying For
5 October 2026
12:20
Here’s something most people don’t realise: “colour blind” almost never means seeing in black and white. The vast majority of colour-blind people see colour – they just see certain colours differently, or find certain combinations harder to distinguish. It’s far more common than you’d think, and a lot of people go years without knowing they have it.
Roughly 1 in 12 men (about 8%) and 1 in 200 women (about 0.5%) have some form of colour vision deficiency. The huge gender gap is because the most common types are inherited on the X chromosome – men have one X, so a single affected gene is enough; women have two, so they’d need both copies affected.
Red-Green Colour Deficiency (Most Common)
This covers the overwhelming majority of cases. People with red-green deficiency don’t see red and green as grey – they see them, but the two colours look more similar to each other than they would to someone with typical colour vision. It can make telling red from green, or orange from green, harder in certain lights and contexts. There are two subtypes: protanopia/protanomaly (reduced red sensitivity) and deuteranopia/deuteranomaly (reduced green sensitivity).
Blue-Yellow Colour Deficiency (Rare)
Tritanopia affects the blue-sensitive cones and is much less common. Blue and yellow become harder to distinguish. This type can be inherited or acquired later in life, sometimes as a sign of optic nerve or retinal disease.
Complete Colour Blindness (Very Rare)
Achromatopsia – genuine black-and-white vision – is extremely rare, affecting roughly 1 in 30,000 people. It’s usually accompanied by light sensitivity and reduced visual acuity. Most people who say they’re “colour blind” have a deficiency, not an absence.
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The one thing worth knowing Colour vision deficiency doesn’t get worse over time (the inherited forms, at least), it doesn’t affect visual acuity, and most people with it adapt so well they don’t realise they’re seeing differently until they’re tested. |
The standard screening test is the Ishihara plate test – a series of circles made up of coloured dots, with a number or shape hidden inside that’s visible to typical colour vision but difficult or impossible to see with a deficiency. It takes about two minutes, is completely non-invasive, and is included as part of a comprehensive examination when requested or clinically relevant.
For more detailed assessment – for career requirements, for example, where specific colour vision thresholds apply – more advanced tests like the Farnsworth D-15 or anomaloscope can be used.
Colour vision deficiency isn’t routinely tested for in school eye screenings, which means many children go through primary school without anyone knowing. This can cause confusion in lessons that rely on colour coding, embarrassment when colours are named incorrectly, and in some cases, misidentification of behavioural or learning difficulties. We include colour vision screening as part of our children’s eye care appointments when appropriate, and early identification makes it much easier for teachers and parents to adapt materials and avoid unnecessary frustration.
Some careers have specific colour vision requirements – pilots, electricians, train drivers, certain branches of the military, and marine navigation among them. If you’re considering one of these, or you need a colour vision certificate, we can carry out the appropriate test and provide documentation
Inherited colour vision deficiency can’t be cured or corrected. Tinted lenses (like EnChroma) can enhance the contrast between certain colours for some people, but they don’t restore normal colour vision – and they don’t work for everyone. If colour blindness is acquired (developing later in life), it may indicate an underlying condition that needs investigation.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your colour vision is typical, or you want your child screened before school, it’s a quick and straightforward test. Book in or call 0141 427 4040 – at Mosspark Opticians, we can screen for colour deficiency as part of your routine examination and explain clearly what the results mean.
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An Ishihara plate test, carried out by your optician, is the standard screening method. It takes about two minutes and identifies the type and severity of any deficiency.
Inherited colour vision deficiency is present from birth and doesn't change. Acquired colour vision loss later in life can occur with certain eye conditions, medications, or optic nerve problems and should be investigated.
Yes - it's not part of routine school screening, so many children go undiagnosed. Early identification allows teachers and parents to adapt colour-coded materials and avoids unnecessary confusion.
Tinted lenses like EnChroma can enhance contrast between certain colours for some people, but they don't restore normal colour vision and don't work for everyone. They're a useful tool for some, not a cure.
Most colour-deficient drivers have no issues - traffic lights are designed to be distinguishable by position as well as colour. A formal colour vision test is not currently required for a standard UK driving licence.
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