There are various types of visual impairments. A common one is color blindness, which affects about 300 million people worldwide. There is no cure for the condition, but an eye doctor can recommend exercises to help you manage it. If you're wondering whether you or a loved one are experiencing this disorder, here's what you need to know.

What Is Color Blindness?

Despite its name, this condition is not blindness, as it doesn't affect the sharpness of your sight. Instead, it affects your ability to differentiate between different hues. About 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women experience color vision deficiency. With this disorder, they generally have difficulty distinguishing between blue and yellow or red and green colors.

What Are the Types of Color Blindness?

Red-Green

The most common of the three major types of this visual impairment is red to green "blindness." It has four types, including deuteranomaly, which makes the color green look more like red. Similarly, a protanomaly disorder makes red appear green and less bright. Both conditions are mild and don't typically get in the way of everyday activities. The other two types are protanopia and deuteranopia. These disorders make you unable to distinguish between red and green.

Blue-Yellow

Blue-yellow color blindness is less common, and there are two types of it. Tritanomaly makes it hard to differentiate between blue and green, as well as yellow and red. On the other hand, people with tritanopia can't distinguish between blue and green; purple and red; and yellow and pink.

Monochrome

With monochromacy, the eyes don't detect any color. If you were previously able to see a full range of hues but suddenly developed vision problems, visit an eye doctor. They can determine whether an underlying health concern, such as cataracts, caused the issue.

What Causes Color Blindness?

This disorder is genetic, passed on by the chromosomes. Males are more susceptible to the condition since they only have one x chromosome — the gene that carries red-green color blindness. Women and men are equally likely to inherit blue-yellow color blindness.

The disorder can also result from a disease or injury affecting the eyes or brain. You can develop the condition if an eye doctor diagnoses you with glaucoma or macular degeneration. People with Alzheimer's or multiple sclerosis are also at risk. Additionally, color vision can worsen as you age, especially if you have cataracts, a clouding of the eye's natural lens.

If you need an exam to discover the cause behind your color blindness, turn to Northern Lights Eye Care in Anchorage, AK. These skilled optometrists and their caring staff provide overall vision care, including glaucoma and cancer screenings. Call (907) 276-3937 to make an appointment at their state-of-the-art facility, or visit the website for more information on their services.