How Corrective Contact Lenses Reduce Color Blindness

Every person in distress from having color vision deficiency has the same dream: "I would like to see the world just like everyone else can and I would like to be able to name colors correctly."

What is color blindness?

Our eyes are comprised of many different parts, including the retina which plays a major role in vision. Color blindness or color vision deficiency is the decreased ability to comprehend differences between some colors which others can distinguish, especially in one or more of the primary colors (red, blue, green) which is recognized through the retina. Most often, it is genetic but may also occur because of eye, brain or nerve damage or even due to chemical exposure. In most people, there is a mismatch between the refractive power of the eye and the length of the eye which leads to a refraction error. It is usually classified as a "mild" disability which can be eased by wearing corrective contact lens.

What are corrective contact lenses?

Corrective contact lenses are specifically designed to improve vision. Its main purpose is to neutralize this mismatch and allowing correct focusing of light to the retina (a light receptive membrane at the back of the eye). This type of lens only alters the perceived color, not enhance the spectrum.

Corrective contact lenses come in 7 hues: pink, magenta, yellow, aqua, violet, green and orange and most of the tints are available at light, medium and dark densities. The pink corrective contact lenses which are in the darkest density is the most effective in enhancing color perception, while magenta corrective contact lenses ranks second.

Furthermore, there is also a disadvantage from wearing these type of lenses. Corrective color contact lenses are sometimes inconvenient to use for some contact lens wearers since these lenses are colored due to tinting technology coating procedure. The purpose of this is to remove certain lights and modify the light for the receptor to receive correct information.

Orthokeratology - What it is and how it works

Orthokeratology is the use of corrective contact lenses usually worn at night for vision improvement by reshaping the cornea as it flattens it. The process of correcting using this type of corrective contact lens takes place when contact lens is left until morning. Instead of going for eye surgery, many prefer to use this type of corrective contact lens. Also, when these lenses are removed from the eye, it gives a short-term effect of corrected eye vision.

How does it work?

Corrective contact lenses are actually very easy to use. Use a tinted lens in one of your eyes (usually in your non-dominant eye) and that's it. One can also use 2 different tints in each of your eye. This works for all types of color blindness:

1. Deuteranopia - the most common form of color blindness, red-green color blindness
2. Tritanopia - a tritan (3) color blindness- blue-yellow color blindness. Confusing the color blue with green and yellow with violet
3. Protanopia - red-green color blindness, less susceptive to red light

Facts about corrective contact lenses

• Corrective contact lenses should be worn only in one eye; otherwise, fewer colors are seen.
• It takes time to get used to it and in learning some new colors.
• Certain colors appear to shimmer and vibrant because the lens is only used on one eye.
• It can be a safety risk wearing corrective contact lenses when driving because of the poor perception during dim light situations.

However, there is one exception: if a person suffers from complete color blindness (achromatopsia) there is no findings yet as to how to restore color vision.

Corrective contact lenses are the tremendously popular type of contact lens sold. There are currently 4 main companies which manufacture corrective contact lenses to aid people with regards to reducing color blindness:

1. ColorMax - from Dr. Thomas Azman who was responsible for the development of a color correction system, a one-of-a-kind system that tests and filters to determine proper filters to be used for enhanced color vision
2. ChromaGen - this type of unique corrective contact lens helps re-synchronize color vision
3. ColorView - spectacle corrective contact lenses that helps adjust the amount of each of the 3 primary colors entering your eye
4. ColorLite - another leader for color vision analysis and correction

The manufacturers of corrective contact lenses generally promise the following improvements:

• Improvement of general perception.
• Allow shades of color which were previously unseen, to be observed.
• Make colors brighter and clearer.
• Improve the ability to name colors correctly (especially when assistance is needed)

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