Learning to see color?

February 7, 2008 4:22 PM

Is there a perceptual (non-physical) component to colorblindness that can be cured or mitigated by training?

I've known for a long time that I have color vision deficiency, but it's only recently through self-testing and research borne of curiosity that I've self-diagnosed moderate protanopia/protanomaly. So I have color vision, it just isn't "correct." I know that I can't grow better photoreceptors, but can I train my brain to be more responsive to those difficult hues, the way that musicians can learn perfect pitch? Are there any methods to accomplish this? Have you found ways to outsmart your weak eyes?

posted by Chris4d to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

Best answer: There is a red-tinted contact lens that you wear in one eye only that makes the differences between colors more stark. It doesn't work if you have severe enough color-blindness. There was also a regular lens being marketed that was supposed to do some kind of active thing to boost the intensity of reds, but I have never seen it come to market in the US.
posted by mzurer at 4:25 PM on February 7, 2008

Musicians don't learn perfect pitch. You either have it or your don't.
posted by BeaverTerror at 6:26 PM on February 7, 2008

I will say that from my experience you will probably think that you are seeing colors better at some point, but the tests will not confirm this. I know of several other color-blind people that share this same affliction with me.
posted by OmieWise at 6:46 PM on February 7, 2008

Response by poster: BeaverTerror, while the ability to learn perfect pitch is disputed, research has shown that certain kinds of training can improve the ear's ability. That's more what I was talking about, in this case, especially as an analogue to illustrate my question. Thanks so much for the help though!
posted by Chris4d at 10:01 PM on February 7, 2008

Best answer: I'm red-green color deficient as well. It's not a brain training problem. your eyes just aren't picking up certain wavelengths.

That said, in high school chemistry class we did an experiment where half the class closed their eyes for about 15 minutes, and then the other half led them outside where we opened our eyes. We were discussing how the chemical your rods and cones use to transmit can get exhausted and after 15 minutes or so with your eyes closed this chemical builds back up. I swear after 15 minutes in the dark and then going into bright sun light, I saw color differences was unable to see previously, but it quickly faded. Maybe I imagined it, but if red not being bright bothers you that much, you could try this and see if you observe a difference.

or, you could try and become a synesthete. apparently our brains our still perfectly capable of "seeing" colors we've never been sent from our eyes,
posted by jrishel at 4:26 AM on February 8, 2008

Response by poster: I wasn't expecting a magic bullet anyway. These are some interesting ideas I wasn't aware of. Thanks everyone :)
posted by Chris4d at 12:49 PM on February 8, 2008