Causes of Color Blindness

Contrary to what its name implies, color blindness is not a form of blindness at all. Rather, it is a deficiency in the way the eye sees color patterns. The most common type of color blindness, red-green color deficiency, makes it difficult to see shades of red and green. A less common form of color blindness is blue-yellow color deficiency.

Cone cells, present in the retina, are responsible for determining color. When these light-sensitive cells are missing or not working properly, the ability to distinguish colors becomes inhibited.

In most cases, color blindness is an inherited or genetic condition, present at birth. The flawed gene cells are passed on through the X chromosome of the mother. Inherited color blindness affects males at a much greater rate than females.

Color blindness may also be caused by aging, disease or injury. There is no cure or treatment for color blindness.

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