Colour blindness. We have the solution: Colorlite

Colour blindness is an eye condition that occurs when there is a problem with the pigments in certain nerve cells of the eye that perceive colour. These cells are called cones and are found in the light-sensitive layer of tissue lining the back of the eye, the retina. However, true colour blindness only affects people who see in black and white, so it is more accurate to describe this disorder as a colour vision deficiency.

The symptoms of colour blindness can range from mild to severe. Many people have such mild symptoms that they do not realise they have a colour vision deficiency. That does not spare them the difficulties it can cause. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should see a specialist:

• Difficulty matching the colours of your clothes properly (and not for lack of taste).
• Not being able to identify colour scales, which is especially important for road safety, as the colours of traffic signals cannot be told apart clearly.
• At school or at work, when painting, making charts or working with anything colour-based is more difficult.

What is more, it is not that uncommon: around 2 million people in Spain have it. The risk factors are mostly genetic and related to sex, as 8% of men and only 0.5% of women have it; in other cases it can be caused by drug abuse or by operations such as cataract surgery.

You can find more information on the Colorlite website, and book an appointment at our opticians to clear up any doubts.