When people hear the term “colourblindness”, they often imagine a world in black and white—but that’s a common misconception. In reality, colourblindness (or more accurately,
colour vision deficiency) affects how individuals perceive certain colours, not whether they see colour at all. It’s a surprisingly common condition, particularly among men, and it exists
in several different forms—each affecting colour perception in a unique way.
Understanding the different types of colourblindness can help explain why someone might struggle with everyday things like reading colour-coded charts, matching clothes, or
interpreting traffic signals. It can also empower people to seek tailored solutions—like the iRo Lens testing kit, which offers accurate insights into individual colour vision profiles
from the comfort of home.
Let’s break down the most common types:
1. Red-Green Colourblindness (the most common type)
This group of conditions is the most widespread, particularly in people assigned male at birth. It includes:
Protanopia: Individuals with protanopia have very limited sensitivity to red light. Reds may appear dull, brownish or even black, and purples may look blue because the red component is missing.
Protanomaly: A milder form where red is not completely absent but appears weaker or “muddy”. People may confuse reds with greens, especially in low lighting.
Deuteranopia: Similar to protanopia, but with reduced sensitivity to green light. Greens may appear more like beige or grey, and reds and greens can be hard to tell apart.
Deuteranomaly: The most common form of red-green deficiency. Greens may appear reddish, and colour matching can be difficult. Many people with deuteranomaly don’t realise they have it until tested.
2. Blue-Yellow Colourblindness (less common) This group is rarer and affects how individuals perceive blue and yellow hues.
Tritanopia: People with tritanopia lack blue cone cells, making it hard to distinguish between blue and green or yellow and pink. The world may appear more red and
green than it actually is.
Tritanomaly: A milder version of tritanopia where blue-yellow discrimination is still affected, but not as severely.
3. Total Colourblindness (very rare)
Monochromacy: This is the rarest and most severe form. People with monochromacy see no colour at all—only shades of grey. It’s often accompanied by sensitivity to
light and poor visual acuity.
Why Knowing Your Type Matters
Understanding your specific type of colour vision deficiency can help with daily tasks, career planning, and even improving visual accessibility. For children, it may explain difficulties in
the classroom. For adults, it can influence choices in everything from clothing to workplace safety.
That’s where the iRo Lens testing kit comes in. Designed for home use, it provides an easy, accurate way to identify your colour vision profile. No long wait times or specialist
appointments—just clear answers you can act on. If you wish to see a Colour Vision specialist we have a range across Australia, click here to locate your nearest one.
Whether you’ve always suspected you see colour differently or you’re exploring it for someone else, knowledge is the first step. And with tools like the iRo Lens kit, that step has never been easier.
