Color blindness, also known as color vision deficiency, is the decreased ability to see color or differences between colors. It affects around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women worldwide. The most common type is red-green color blindness, which includes deutan color blindness. People with deutan color blindness have trouble distinguishing between reds, greens, browns, and oranges.
What is deutan color blindness?
Deutan color blindness is one of three main types of red-green color blindness:
- Protanopia – lacking red cones
- Deuteranopia – lacking green cones
- Tritanopia – lacking blue cones
People with deutan color blindness have defective green photoreceptor cones in their eyes. This makes it hard to tell the difference between red and green shades. There are two subtypes of deutan color blindness:
- Deuteranomaly – having defective green cones
- Deuteranopia – having missing or non-functioning green cones
Deuteranomaly is the most common type of red-green color blindness. It affects about 6% of the male population. Deuteranopia, which is rarer, affects about 1% of males.
What colors do people with deutan color blindness see?
People with deutan color blindness don’t see colors “wrong.” They simply can’t differentiate between certain shades in the red, orange, yellow, and green color spectrum. Here’s what they typically see:
- Reds, oranges, and browns may appear similar and indistinguishable
- Greens may appear more blue or grey
- It’s hard to tell ripe fruit and vegetables by color
- Red and green look more similar
- Purple can look like various shades of blue
- Turquoise tends to stand out more
Here is a table comparing how people with normal color vision see colors vs people with deutan color blindness:
| Color | Normal vision | Deutan color blindness |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Bright, vivid red | Dull, appears more brown or green |
| Green | Vibrant green | Appears dull, blue/grey |
| Purple | Purple | Appears blue |
| Orange | Vibrant orange | Hard to distinguish from red |
| Yellow | Bright yellow | Can sometimes appear greenish |
| Pink | Bright pink | Often cannot tell difference from blue |
| Turquoise | Light greenish-blue | Usually stands out more |
As you can see, people with deutan color blindness mainly have trouble differentiating between reds/browns/oranges and greens. While they can still see most colors, they appear duller and less vivid.
What causes deutan color blindness?
Deutan color blindness is a genetic disorder caused by a defect in the OPN1MW gene on the X chromosome. This gene controls the green light-sensitive cone cells in the retina. If the gene is mutated, it leads to faulty or missing green cones. Since it is carried on the X chromosome, deutan color blindness mainly affects men.
When a woman has one faulty copy of the OPN1MW gene, she is known as a “carrier.” She can pass on the gene but usually does not have color vision problems herself. When a man inherits the defective gene, he will have deutan color blindness because he only has one X chromosome.
How do people get diagnosed with deutan color blindness?
Doctors can diagnose deutan color blindness and other vision abnormalities through simple color vision tests. These may involve:
- Ishihara plates: Circles of dots appearing as numbers or shapes invisible to color blind people.
- Arrangement tests: Organizing colored chips from light to dark.
- Anomaloscopy: Matching yellow/red and blue/green light mixes.
- Farnsworth D-15: Placing 15 moveable color caps in order.
Based on the patterns of errors, doctors can pinpoint whether someone has protan, deutan or tritan color blindness. They can also determine the severity. Genetic testing can also identify faulty color vision genes.
How does deutan color blindness affect everyday life?
While deutan color blindness doesn’t severely impact daily living, it can cause challenges and annoyances. Here are some of the ways it may affect everyday life:
- Difficulty reading colored maps, charts, and graphs
- Issues distinguishing traffic and signal lights
- Inability to tell when meat is cooked from color
- Trouble picking out clothing or paint colors
- Problems spotting reds and greens in team sports
- Difficulty identifying ripe produce
- Issues working in color-coded environments like electronics
Color blindness is sometimes found through problems at school or difficulties with sports or hobbies. Careers like graphic design, photography, aviation and healthcare may require full color vision. However, technology is making it easier for the color blind to adapt in daily life.
How do people adapt to deutan color blindness?
While there is no “cure” for inherited color blindness, people find ways to successfully adapt and work around it. Some strategies include:
- Using cues besides color, like shape and texture
- Asking others to help identify indistinguishable colors
- Labeling clothing tags, maps, wires, etc. with text
- Carrying a color identifier tool or app
- Getting professional color vision testing to understand your limits
- Making accommodations at school or work when needed
- Modifying computer and device settings for color blind modes
- Using color blind glasses or contact lenses to enhance hues
With some minor adjustments, people with color blindness can find ways to accurately identify colors for their individual needs.
What is the outlook for people with deutan color blindness?
Deutan color blindness is a lifelong condition, but the prognosis is generally good. It is not progressive, so people maintain the same degree of color vision impairment throughout life. However, some associated eye conditions can develop later:
- Myopia – also more common in people with deutan color blindness.
- Amblyopia – decreased vision in one eye.
- Glaucoma – optic nerve damage leading to vision loss.
Regular eye exams can detect these conditions early and monitor eye health. While frustrating at times, deutan color blindness alone does not lead to complete blindness or sight loss later in life.
Groundbreaking research on the horizon
Advancements in gene therapy and optogenetics may one day cure red-green color blindness. Researchers are investigating using viruses to deliver corrected genes directly into the retina’s cone cells. This could restore normal color vision without side effects. Other promising methods use eye drops or light stimulation to make cones more responsive to red or green light.
For now, improving quality of life through awareness and accessibility is key. With some understanding and accommodations, people with deutan color blindness can thrive in their communities, careers, and relationships.
Conclusion
Deutan color blindness affects how people perceive reds, greens, oranges, and browns. While not debilitating, it can make certain tasks more challenging. However, those with deutan color blindness find ways to successfully adapt and work around their limitations. Understanding what colors they see differently helps create an environment in which they can excel. With continued advocacy and emerging treatments, the future looks bright for those with color vision deficiencies.