What Do Colorblind People See? Understanding Color Vision Deficiency

Discover how people with color vision deficiency perceive the world, its causes, impact, and adaptations.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Sep 26, 2025

Discover how people with color vision deficiency perceive the world, its causes, impact, and adaptations.

What Do Colorblind People See? A Comprehensive Guide to Color Vision Deficiency

Color blindness, medically known as color vision deficiency, affects millions globally. This condition alters how individuals perceive colors, impacting everyday experiences—from recognizing traffic lights to choosing clothing. By understanding what colorblind people see, we can better support those living with this common yet often misunderstood vision difference.

What is Color Blindness?
How Do People with Color Blindness See Colors?
Types of Color Blindness
Causes of Color Blindness
Symptoms and Diagnosis
How Common Is Color Blindness?
Living with Color Blindness
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is Color Blindness?

Color blindness describes a condition in which a person has difficulty distinguishing between specific colors. This stems from problems with the color-sensing pigments located in the retina of the eye. Rather than seeing the full spectrum of colors, affected individuals may perceive only certain hues or may fail to notice differences between shades commonly obvious to people without this condition.

People rarely see the world in black and white; most have milder forms that affect distinct color ranges. The rarest form, achromatopsia, results in vision that is entirely devoid of color, appearing in shades of gray—much like an old black-and-white photograph.

How Do People With Color Blindness See Colors?

Visual experience for colorblind individuals depends on the type and severity of their color vision deficiency. Most commonly, there is difficulty separating red from green or blue from yellow. Some colors may appear duller, grayer, or may blend together in everyday life:

Red-green color blindness: People may see reds and greens as similar shades, often brownish or gray.
Blue-yellow color blindness: Blues and yellows may look indistinguishable, with blue hues appearing dull or even neutral.
Total color blindness (achromatopsia): All colors are perceived as shades of gray, black, or white.

For example, when looking at a typical color chart, someone with red-green color blindness may interpret reds, greens, and teals as yellow, gray, beige, or blue, rather than their true colors.

Types of Color Blindness

There are three main types of color vision deficiency:

Red-green color blindness: This is the most prevalent type and affects the ability to differentiate between reds and greens.
Blue-yellow color blindness: Rarer, this impacts the distinction of blues and yellows.
Total color blindness (achromatopsia): The rarest form, it results in an inability to perceive any colors.

Each type stems from dysfunction or absence of specific retinal cone cells tasked with perceiving color. These cells include:

L cones: React to long wavelengths (red).
M cones: React to medium wavelengths (green).
S cones: React to short wavelengths (blue).

Type	Primary Color Problem	Description
Red-Green	Difficulties with red and green shades	Most common; often inherited
Blue-Yellow	Difficulties with blue and yellow hues	Rare; may be acquired late in life
Achromatopsia	Cannot perceive any colors	Extremely rare

Inherited vs. Acquired Color Blindness

Inherited color blindness is caused by genetic mutations and typically runs in families.
Acquired color blindness emerges later in life due to disease, injury, or certain medications.

Causes of Color Blindness

Genetic Factors: Most color vision deficiency cases are hereditary. The gene responsible is often carried on the X chromosome, contributing to the higher prevalence in men compared to women. Gene alterations such as those in OPN1LW, OPN1MW, and OPN1SW have been associated with specific types of deficiency.

Acquired Color Blindness: This may arise from:

Eye diseases affecting the retina or optic nerve
Certain medications
Aging
Exposure to toxins
Injury to the eye or brain

Sometimes acquired color blindness can progress rapidly, depending on the underlying cause and may result in more severe symptoms than the inherited form.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The primary symptom is difficulty distinguishing between certain colors. Common observations include:

Colors may seem less vivid or bright
Different shades appear interchangeable
Mistaking one color for another, such as calling all greens ‘gray’
Difficulty with colored tasks (sorting, drawing, or painting)
Use of unconventional colors (drawings with purple leaves or blue grass)

This condition often becomes noticeable in early childhood, particularly during activities involving color-based learning. However, for some, awareness comes later when routine tasks involving color recognition prove problematic.

Diagnostic Tests

Ishihara Test: Involves reading images consisting of colored dots; numbers or shapes are visible only to those with normal color vision.
Color Arrangement Tests: Requires sorting colored objects in order of shade similarity.

Note: While online assessments are available, formal diagnosis should be pursued at an optician’s or ophthalmologist’s office.

How Common Is Color Blindness?

Color vision deficiency is one of the most prevalent inherited visual conditions. Prevalence varies among populations:

Approximately 8% of white males are born with color vision deficiency
Less than 0.5% of females of all ethnicities are affected
Achromatopsia (complete color blindness) affects 1 in 30,000 people worldwide; among them, up to 10% perceive no color at all
Prevalence is highest in non-Hispanic white populations and lowest in Black populations according to pediatric studies

Living With Color Blindness

Lifestyle Impact: While color blindness rarely impairs physical vision or eye health, it can shape experiences in learning, career, and daily living:

Education: Young children with color blindness may struggle in school tasks involving colors. Teachers and parents can support them by adjusting teaching methods and materials.
Career choices: Certain professions require precise color vision for safety reasons, such as pilots and train drivers. People with color vision deficiency may be restricted from pursuing these fields.
Daily navigation: Activities like reading colored charts, interpreting traffic lights, matching clothing, or choosing ripe foods can be more challenging. Some may adapt by associating colors with position or other visual cues.

Adaptation Strategies

Labeling items and using text instead of color coding
Adaptive technologies, including certain apps and special glasses that enhance color discrimination
Awareness and communication with teachers, employers, and peers to facilitate understanding and support

Outlook and Coping

Most people with color vision deficiency adapt well and lead full, independent lives. Early diagnosis and support can lessen the impact in social and academic settings. Communicating needs and leveraging available aids helps ensure many challenges are minimized throughout life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can color blindness develop later in life?

A: Yes, while most cases are inherited and present from birth, some individuals acquire color blindness due to disease, injury, aging, medications, or exposure to toxins. Acquired cases can often progress more rapidly and affect both sexes equally.

Q: Are there treatments or cures for color blindness?

A: There is currently no cure for inherited color blindness. Adaptive tools—such as color-correcting glasses and digital apps—can help people distinguish colors more effectively. For acquired forms, treating the underlying cause may help, but color vision rarely returns to normal.

Q: Does color blindness affect visual acuity or cause blindness?

A: No, color vision deficiency does not usually impact visual acuity (sharpness of vision) or lead to blindness. The condition specifically affects the perception of color—not the ability to see shapes, objects, or text.

Q: How is color blindness diagnosed?

A: Eye health professionals use tests like the Ishihara dot test or color arrangement tests to formally diagnose the type and extent of color vision deficiency. Routine eye exams may not include color vision testing unless requested or indicated by symptoms.

Q: Can children with color blindness succeed academically?

A: Absolutely—children with color vision deficiency can thrive in school and everyday life. Early identification and accommodations (such as avoiding color-coded tasks or providing alternative formats) are key.

Summary Table: Color Blindness at a Glance

Aspect	Details
Symptoms	Difficulty distinguishing colors; dull or grayish perception
Causes	Inherited genes (most common); acquired via disease, injury, or medication
Types	Red-green, blue-yellow, achromatopsia (total color blindness)
Diagnosis	Ishihara dot test; color arrangement tests performed by opticians
Outlook	Adaptation common; certain careers restricted; overall life unaffected

Key Takeaways

Color vision deficiency alters how colors are seen, typically making distinguishing red and green—or blue and yellow—more difficult.
Most cases are inherited via X-linked genetic mutations and present at birth.
Symptoms may be mild or unnoticed in early childhood; formal diagnosis is important for early adaptation.
Color blindness does not affect visual acuity or lead to total blindness.
Support, awareness, and adaptive technologies help those affected lead full, productive lives.

What Do Colorblind People See? Understanding Color Vision Deficiency

What Do Colorblind People See? A Comprehensive Guide to Color Vision Deficiency

Table of Contents

What Is Color Blindness?

How Do People With Color Blindness See Colors?