Colour Blind Awareness Day

Colour blindness impacts 1 in every 12 males and 1 in every 200 females. Colour blindness is inherited genetically, so usually colour blind people often become aware of it during their younger years. It can however be common that some people do not realise they are seeing colour differently, and therefore may not realise they are actually colour blind!

People who are affected by this are still able to see in colour, but certain colours and shades may be perceived differently and are not the same what everyone else can see. It can range from just having trouble identifying particular shades, to only being able to recognise three to four colours.

There are a few different types of colour blindness:

• Protanopia affects red light perception. Blues and purples are often confused when the ‘red’ element of purple isn’t recognised resulting in a blue shade.

• Deuteranopia affects green light perception. The ‘green’ element isn’t recognised resulting in a yellow or brown shade.

• Tritanopia is the least common form and affects the difference in perception of yellow and blue light.

Colour Blind Awareness Day aims to bring attention to this special vision trait and help to educate people in understanding it. It's not known exactly what causes colour vision deficiency, but it's believed to be an issue with the signals from your eyes to your brain.

Whilst it is mostly hereditary and people are born with it, it can sometimes be caused by:

• eye conditions, such as glaucoma

• other conditions such as diabetes, liver disease and multiple sclerosis

• an eye or head injury

• a stroke

• taking certain medicines

If you are concerned about your vision, or think your child may need testing, visit your optician and they can carry out a few tests in order to make any diagnosis.