Health Advice

Colour vision deficiency (colour blindness)

Colour vision deficiency (colour blindness) is where you see colours differently to most people, and have difficulty telling colours apart. There's no treatment for colour vision deficiency that runs in families, but people usually adapt to living with it.

Check if it's colour vision deficiency

The main symptom of colour vision deficiency is finding it hard to tell the difference between colours.

You can be born with colour vision deficiency, or it can start at any age.

If your child has colour vision deficiency you may not notice any symptoms, but you may notice your child:

  • uses the wrong colours when drawing or painting, for example, drawing purple leaves on trees
  • has difficulty with tasks involving sorting colours
  • lacks interest in colouring tasks
  • smells food before eating it

Go to an opticians if:

  • you or your child have signs of colour vision deficiency

Tests for colour vision deficiency

There are 2 main tests for colour vision deficiency:

  • the Ishihara test, where you'll be asked to read images made up of coloured dots
  • colour arrangement tests, where you'll be asked to put coloured objects in order of what shade they are

Colour vision testing is not part of the routine NHS eye test, but you can ask your opticians for it if you think you or your child needs it.

Tests are available online, but it's important to get checked at an opticians if you have concerns about your vision.

NHS eye tests

NHS eye tests are free for some people including:

  • children aged under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
  • people who have diabetes or glaucoma
  • people on some benefits, including Universal Credit

Find out more about free NHS eye tests

If you or your child has been diagnosed with colour vision deficiency

People usually adapt well to life with colour vision deficiency.

It may affect your child's performance at school.

Tell your child's school if they have colour vision deficiency. The school may be able to make adjustments for your child's lessons and exams.

Having colour vision deficiency may mean you're unable to do certain careers for safety reasons, such as being a pilot or train driver.

Find out more

Causes of colour vision deficiency

It's not known exactly what causes colour vision deficiency, but it's thought to be a problem with the signals from your eyes to your brain.

It can be passed on in families and some people are born with it.

Colour vision deficiency can also sometimes be caused by:

  • eye conditions, such as glaucoma
  • other conditions such as diabetes, liver disease and multiple sclerosis
  • an eye or head injury
  • a stroke
  • taking certain medicines

Treatment for colour vision deficiency

There is currently no treatment for colour vision deficiency that runs in families. Most people adapt to seeing colours differently.

If your colour vision has been affected by an underlying medical condition or by medicines, getting treatment for the condition or changing medicines may help.

Find out more