What if you couldn’t see colour properly? The exact causes of colour-blindness are still being researched, but it is thought to occur when the cones, found in the retina of the eye, are faulty.
There are three types of cones, one that deals with red light, one for blue and one for green. The cones, working together, process the light and give you your perception of colour. Most cases of colour-blindness are hereditary, and the gene resulting in the condition is passed down through the X chromosome, meaning that the condition affects more men than women.
We tried out some online tests, and liked this one for ease of use and fast results. It follows the Ishihara plates pattern of colour-blindness testing. The test contains 38 different plates with a number or line concealed within colourful dots. Whether you can see the line or number, indicates whether you have some form of red-green colour blindness.
Another popular test for colour deficiency is the F-M 100 Hue Color Vision Test, which involves arranging 88 slides into transcending shades. Although a free version is not available online, you can try a similar test here.*
Wonder what it is like to be colour-blind? The Colour Blind Awareness Organisation recommends this experience from neitzvision that allows you to experience a range of different kinds of colour-blindness.
The statistics revealed by the organisation might surprise you: approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women in the world are affected by colour-blindness.
See our gallery below for a list of celebrities with the condition.
-
Paul Newman could not join the Navy's V-12 program at Yale University in 1943 because he was colourblind. -
Bill Clinton needed a special light system to tell him when the cameras were rolling. AP -
Rod Stewart's daughter, Kimberly Stewart, revealed to 'The Sunday Times Style' magazine her father's sometimes outlandish choice of is due to the face he is colourblind. AP Images -
Meat Loaf found out he was colourblind during a physical to join the army in 1965. Reuters -
Eddie Redmayne told British newspaper 'The Mirror' "I’m colour blind, so occasionally I’ll go for things that are slightly outlandish and she’ll temper me back into the world of taste." Courtesy Universal Pictures International -
Mark Zuckerburg said in an interview with The New Yorker he had chosen blue for FaceBook because it was the richest colour to him due to his colourblindness. Reuters
* The online tests are for informational purposes only and you should consult an eye care professional if you believe you may have colour-vision deficiency.
