What are the Symptoms of Color Blindness?

Also known as poor color vision, color blindness is a condition that people sometimes have from birth and only become aware of the fact at a later time. There are varying levels of color blindness that allow some people to see certain colors with accuracy, while other people are unable to distinguish colors at all. Here are the basic symptoms of color blindness that will help you or a loved one know if you have the condition.

Since there are usually not pains, aches or general discomfort among the signs of color blindness, it is easy for people who’ve had the condition from birth to never realize they do not view certain colors like other people. The only real physical signs of color blindness are when it is determined an individual has difficulty identifying certain colors. The discovery of poor color vision may take place early in life or go undetected for many years.

One common form of poor color vision is the inability to identify different shades of red and green. Symptoms of red and green colorblindness usually are discovered when it becomes apparent that children have difficulty identifying the any shade of either color. Depending on the depth of the shade, the child may view both colors as some shade of gray or possibly even black.

Symptoms of color blindness in children may also be manifested as an inability to recognize the different shades of yellow and blue. Again, the problem usually becomes apparent when the child is clearly not seeing what others are seeing. Tests by a qualified physician can determine the presence of the condition, and also possibly identify the severity of the color blindness.

The signs of color blindness are most apparent when the individual is unable to distinguish any colors at all. When this is the case, the symptoms of color blindness revolve around every object appearing to be some sort of shade of black or gray, allowing the individual to experience the world in a manner that is not unlike watching an old movie produced in the days before color film.

It is important to note that while the symptoms of color blindness may indicate the presence of a permanent condition that can be managed, there are situations in which the inability to distinguish certain colors is an indicator of a more serious physical ailment. Should an individual not have a history of problems with colors and suddenly be unable to identify them accurately, make arrangements to see a doctor immediately. The issue may be an eye infection that can be treated effectively and restore the full range of color recognition once the infection is successfully treated.