Can you develop red-green colorblindness?
March 15, 2012 6:16 PM Subscribe
I feel like my I've progressively become red-green colorblind over the past decade or so. Is there any medical condition that could explain this?
When I was a kid, I remember being able to easily read the Ishihara colorblindness plates. However, for most of my teenage and adult life, I've had problems identifying various colors. I took a look at the plates again recently and the results clearly point to my having red-green colorblindness. What could have caused this to happen? I've tried Googling it, but most of the results say that colorblindness is something you're born with, not something you develop.
When I was a kid, I remember being able to easily read the Ishihara colorblindness plates. However, for most of my teenage and adult life, I've had problems identifying various colors. I took a look at the plates again recently and the results clearly point to my having red-green colorblindness. What could have caused this to happen? I've tried Googling it, but most of the results say that colorblindness is something you're born with, not something you develop.
Are you on any medications? The drug Plaquenil can cause color blindness:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001997/
posted by Tandem Affinity at 6:26 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001997/
posted by Tandem Affinity at 6:26 PM on March 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
The wikipedia page for colorblindness indicates you might be deficient in vitamin-A if everything else is in order.
"Color blindness may also present itself in the spectrum of degenerative diseases of the eye, such as age-related macular degeneration, and as part of the retinal damage caused by diabetes. Another factor that may affect color blindness includes a deficiency in Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene).[19]"
posted by NoDef at 6:33 PM on March 15, 2012
"Color blindness may also present itself in the spectrum of degenerative diseases of the eye, such as age-related macular degeneration, and as part of the retinal damage caused by diabetes. Another factor that may affect color blindness includes a deficiency in Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene).[19]"
posted by NoDef at 6:33 PM on March 15, 2012
I would see an ophthalmologist, explain my concerns, and find out what's going on. These are your eyes, and if any degeneration is beginning, it's best to find out now and start taking steps to treat it now!
posted by exphysicist345 at 7:49 PM on March 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by exphysicist345 at 7:49 PM on March 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
My husband the M.D. says he can't improve on the answers given.
posted by Capri at 8:41 PM on March 15, 2012
posted by Capri at 8:41 PM on March 15, 2012
Losing sensitivity to color can be a sign of optic neuritis. I don't know that it would show up specifically as red-green colorblind, but it can make colors more difficult to distinguish. When I had it, everything seemed kind of grayed out and muted. If it has lasted for years, though, it would definitely be something to see an ophthalmologist about.
posted by vytae at 4:18 AM on March 16, 2012
posted by vytae at 4:18 AM on March 16, 2012
I have RB color blindness as well. I found out about 15 years ago perhaps? (Oh babe, those clothes do not match… do you think maybe you might be colorblind? Indeed.)
For ten years, I sat with it. There's a few web pages and photoshop filters that are made for graphic designers that turn normal images into what colour-blind individuals see. It's how I self-diagnosed the depth of my own colour blindness. I printed an image -- raw from camera, and then filtered -- on two pieces of photo paper. Then, friends and family were enlisted to 1) confirm there was a difference, and 2) what the differences were, as accurately as possible.
From that process, I determined that whilst I see green, I do not see green 1) as brightly as others, and 2) do not see as many gradations of green. The world is filled with tremendous blues, however greens are muted and there's quite a narrow range of them.
Once I had a basis for knowing exactly what the differences were, I set out on a plan to learn how to differentiate colours. Part of it is looking at greens from different angles, which can provide cues as to how bright the green is. Also, looking at greens in a variety of contexts to see how colours around green affect perception of the colour.
The process worked well (I like your new gear mate, you're putting together some good colour combinations. Hurray!), and it is ongoing. Nothing miraculous, rather a bit of cognitive colour education.
Now, the point of all of that is I have noticed that it changes over time. If I spend many days in a sunny place (Southern California, India, China, South of France), colours become more vibrant. In grey London, colours become less pronounced. Obviously this is true as a philosophical statement and general eye thing applicable to us all. What I notice is that there are literally more greens and less greens, depending on how much light my eyes have been absorbing in the short-term.
That's the first point. The second point is that it just naturally changes over time as well. I'm noticing it increase as age arrives (thanks Father Time), just generally it gets more pronounced. That being said, it's not a linear or consistent pattern. Fifteen years ago, it was somewhat obvious to me. Now, it's very obvious, especially after the exercises in knowing it's there.
Apparently eyesight degrades over time. Mine remains quite a bit better than 20/20, and the quality of eyesight hasn't changed at all. Yet the colour perception does, and perhaps that's just the way it goes with these things.
As others have said, it's worth getting checked out. I wouldn't worry until a optomotrist (or two) tells you to worry. It very well may be a product of age. Diet seems to influence it as well. But that's true of all health isn't it. When smokers quit smoking, they report that they see better, hear better, experience tactile sensations to a greater degree. When one eats a fresh-food balanced diet, the brain is in a better place compared to a McDiet.
These things will all affect your vision inherently -- and with colour blindness, you have an additional dimension that you may be noticing.
That being said, what I watch for are changes in the other aspects. Obviously, colour blindness provides improved night-vision capabilities. For me, that's what I monitor the most. If my night-vision perception was to substantially degrade, I would definitely follow it up, for that is a much cleaner monitor in my opinion. Colour patterns change over time, but night-vision is literally about the fidelity the eye sorts out (objects, patterns, etc.).
posted by nickrussell at 7:16 AM on March 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
For ten years, I sat with it. There's a few web pages and photoshop filters that are made for graphic designers that turn normal images into what colour-blind individuals see. It's how I self-diagnosed the depth of my own colour blindness. I printed an image -- raw from camera, and then filtered -- on two pieces of photo paper. Then, friends and family were enlisted to 1) confirm there was a difference, and 2) what the differences were, as accurately as possible.
From that process, I determined that whilst I see green, I do not see green 1) as brightly as others, and 2) do not see as many gradations of green. The world is filled with tremendous blues, however greens are muted and there's quite a narrow range of them.
Once I had a basis for knowing exactly what the differences were, I set out on a plan to learn how to differentiate colours. Part of it is looking at greens from different angles, which can provide cues as to how bright the green is. Also, looking at greens in a variety of contexts to see how colours around green affect perception of the colour.
The process worked well (I like your new gear mate, you're putting together some good colour combinations. Hurray!), and it is ongoing. Nothing miraculous, rather a bit of cognitive colour education.
Now, the point of all of that is I have noticed that it changes over time. If I spend many days in a sunny place (Southern California, India, China, South of France), colours become more vibrant. In grey London, colours become less pronounced. Obviously this is true as a philosophical statement and general eye thing applicable to us all. What I notice is that there are literally more greens and less greens, depending on how much light my eyes have been absorbing in the short-term.
That's the first point. The second point is that it just naturally changes over time as well. I'm noticing it increase as age arrives (thanks Father Time), just generally it gets more pronounced. That being said, it's not a linear or consistent pattern. Fifteen years ago, it was somewhat obvious to me. Now, it's very obvious, especially after the exercises in knowing it's there.
Apparently eyesight degrades over time. Mine remains quite a bit better than 20/20, and the quality of eyesight hasn't changed at all. Yet the colour perception does, and perhaps that's just the way it goes with these things.
As others have said, it's worth getting checked out. I wouldn't worry until a optomotrist (or two) tells you to worry. It very well may be a product of age. Diet seems to influence it as well. But that's true of all health isn't it. When smokers quit smoking, they report that they see better, hear better, experience tactile sensations to a greater degree. When one eats a fresh-food balanced diet, the brain is in a better place compared to a McDiet.
These things will all affect your vision inherently -- and with colour blindness, you have an additional dimension that you may be noticing.
That being said, what I watch for are changes in the other aspects. Obviously, colour blindness provides improved night-vision capabilities. For me, that's what I monitor the most. If my night-vision perception was to substantially degrade, I would definitely follow it up, for that is a much cleaner monitor in my opinion. Colour patterns change over time, but night-vision is literally about the fidelity the eye sorts out (objects, patterns, etc.).
posted by nickrussell at 7:16 AM on March 16, 2012 [1 favorite]
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posted by archagon at 6:21 PM on March 15, 2012