For many parents, there’s a deep sense of pride and emotion that comes with seeing their child’s artwork. That crayon rainbow stuck on the fridge, a finger-painted masterpiece brought home from school, or a colourful birthday card made with love—these are moments to be treasured.
But for parents living with colourblindness, there’s a quiet heartbreak that often goes unseen. When you can’t see colours the way your child does, interpreting their artwork becomes a challenge. And worse—sometimes you get it wrong. That ” colourful rainbow” looks grey, the ‘green’ giraffe? It was yellow. The grey blob you assumed was a rock? It was meant to be a bright red heart.
What It Feels Like
Colourblindness affects how you perceive and differentiate between certain colours, most commonly reds, greens, and browns. For someone with colour vision deficiency, two colours that seem completely different to others might look almost identical. This can lead to awkward or upsetting moments—especially when trying to connect with your child through something as personal as their creative expression.
Imagine your child excitedly handing you a picture they’ve spent ages on, only for you to struggle to make sense of it. You smile, nod, and guess—but your child gently corrects you, pointing out that the sky is purple, not blue, and the tree is orange, not green. It’s not just about getting colours “wrong”—it’s about feeling like you’ve missed a little piece of their world.
Losing Out on Shared Moments
These small missteps can carry a heavy emotional toll. Colourblind parents often express sadness over the idea that they’re not experiencing their child’s imagination the way it was intended. It’s not about needing to see every colour perfectly—it’s about wanting to truly connect. When your child says, “I made this for you!” there’s a desire to see it as they see it.
Over time, this disconnect can lead to frustration or even avoidance. Some parents might shy away from helping with art projects or feel hesitant to comment on drawings or crafts, worried they’ll say the wrong thing. But the desire to be involved, to participate fully, remains strong.
Understanding Colourblindness in Everyday Life
Colourblindness doesn’t just affect art—it can impact everything from reading coloured charts to recognising warning signs or picking out clothes. But in parenting, where so much communication is non-verbal and visual, the challenges can feel particularly personal.
The good news is, tools and technology are evolving to help bridge the gap.
How iRo Lenses Can Help
One such advancement is iRo Lenses—specially designed lenses that enhance colour perception by filtering specific wavelengths of light. For colourblind parents, wearing iRo Lenses can improve the ability to distinguish between commonly confused colours, bringing clarity to previously muddled visuals.
When it comes to your child’s artwork, iRo Lenses can help you see the colours more accurately—so the rainbow really does look like a rainbow, and the red heart shines through. It’s not just about colour correction—it’s about connection. And for many families, that makes all the difference.
