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 globally. While it is not curable, specialized glasses have been developed to help color blind people see colors more vividly. However, these glasses tend to be quite expensive, especially considering they are not covered by insurance. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind the high prices of color blind glasses.
How Color Blind Glasses Work
Color blind glasses contain lenses that are designed to filter out certain wavelengths of light that cause confusion for color blind people. There are a few different ways the lenses achieve this:
- Notch filtering – Notch filters block narrow bands of wavelengths that overlap in an anomalous trichromat’s vision, improving separation between colors.
- Broadband filtering – These filters block broad ranges of wavelengths to sharpen blurred colors seen by anomalous trichromats.
- Dichroic mirrors and lenses – Used to reflect particular wavelengths and transmit others, separating colors seen as indistinguishable.
This advanced technology in the lenses allows certain colors to become brighter and more saturated while muting other hues, enabling color blind people to detect subtle differences between colors.
Specialized Design and Materials
Creating color blind assisting lenses requires significant research and design expertise. Companies have entire teams dedicated to developing the ideal filters and technology to meet the exact needs of color blind individuals. The lenses must be carefully crafted to filter just the right wavelengths and amounts of light.
The materials used in these specialty glasses are also more expensive. The lenses are made from high optical quality glass or polycarbonate to provide maximum visual clarity. Many brands also apply proprietary coatings and treatments to the lenses to enhance their ability to separate out problematic wavelengths.
Low Scale Production
Unlike regular eyeglasses that are mass produced, color blind glasses are manufactured on a much smaller scale. The potential customer base is limited to the relatively small percentage of the population with color blindness. This means it is not cost effective for companies to make them in huge batches like regular vision correction glasses.
The costs spent on research and development must also be recouped from a smaller number of sales. When fixed costs are spread across fewer units produced, it leads to a higher price per unit.
Lack of Insurance Coverage
One major factor behind the steep prices is that color blind glasses are generally not covered by vision insurance plans. They are viewed as an enhancement product rather than medically necessary. Other specialized vision products like light-responsive lenses also tend to be categorized this way.
Without insurance subsidizing some of the cost, the full retail price must be paid directly by the consumer. This is challenging for many color blind individuals hoping to purchase the glasses.
Cost Breakdown
To understand why color blind glasses cost so much, let’s take a look at what goes into the retail pricing:
| Cost Component | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Research and development | $500,000 – $2 million |
| Materials – lenses, frames, coatings | $25 – $50 |
| Manufacturing | $10 – $20 |
| Marketing and sales | $50 – $100 |
| Retailer markup | 2x – 3x wholesale price |
As you can see, creating color blind glasses requires major upfront investments into research and design. The costs accumulate from expensive base materials, low production scale, marketing efforts, and standard retail markups. While the glasses may seem highly priced, the array of costs involved makes the final price tag more understandable.
Are Color Blind Glasses Worth the Cost?
Despite their high price tags, many color blind individuals report the glasses are worth the investment. Being able to see colors properly for the first time in their lives is an emotional and eye-opening experience. The boost in color perception can also provide practical benefits:
- Improved ability to interpret graphs, charts, maps, etc.
- Increased safety identifying colored warning signs, traffic lights
- Enhanced enjoyment of colorful art, nature, decor
- Better clothing coordination and style
- Heightened visual engagement in sports, gaming, and entertainment
The impact color blind glasses can have on someone’s life may be difficult to quantify, but many users find the benefits to be invaluable. While the upfront cost seems daunting, it may be worthwhile if you rely heavily on color perception.
Future Outlook
Moving forward, there are a few factors that could help lower prices for color blind glasses:
- Increased competition – More companies entering the market could gradually reduce costs.
- Advanced production methods – New manufacturing techniques like 3D printing could lower per unit costs.
- Insurance coverage – Potential shift toward covering color blind glasses as a medical need rather than enhancement.
- OTC availability – Enabling over-the-counter purchases could reduce retail markup from specialized eye care providers.
However, the inherent challenges of small production scale and high development costs may prevent major price drops. Still, increasing adoption could slowly make the glasses more affordable over time.
Conclusion
Color blind glasses require sophisticated design and niche manufacturing that contribute to steep pricing. The limited customer base also prevents companies from reducing per unit expenses. Despite the high cost, many find the benefits well worth the investment. There is hope emerging technologies and increased competition may gradually lower prices and improve accessibility. But for now, the specialized nature of the glasses will likely keep costs elevated compared to standard vision correction options.
