Colour blindness: Myths, genetics and gender factor
By dispelling myths and promoting adaptive strategies, society can better accommodate the needs of individuals with this condition.
MANY people think only men can be colour blind, but that’s not true.
While the condition is far more prevalent in men, women can also be affected, though it is significantly rarer. The most common types of colour blindness are passed down through the X-linked recessive pattern.
According to Columbia Asia Hospital consultant ophthalmologist Dr Fatin Nadia Zamawi, since men possess one X and one Y chromosome, a single faulty gene on their X chromosome can lead to colour blindness.
"While women have two X chromosomes, if one carries the gene for colour blindness, the other usually compensates.
"For a woman to be colour blind, she must inherit the faulty gene from both parents, which is uncommon," she said when contacted.
This genetic explanation clarifies why female colour blindness is rare but not impossible.
Dr Fatin said individuals with colour blindness do perceive colours, but in altered tones compared to those with normal vision.
The two most common forms are red-green and blue-yellow colour blindness. An extremely rare condition, known as achromatopsia, results in complete colour blindness, where individuals see only in shades of black and white, with no colour perception at all.
Challenges faced by women with colour blindness
She also stressed that because colour blindness is far less common in women, their symptoms are frequently overlooked or dismissed. Many women remain unaware of their condition until adulthood, leading to delayed diagnosis.
The challenges they encounter are similar to those faced by men with the condition, including difficulties with colour-dependent tasks such as coordinating clothing, applying makeup, or selecting ripe fruits and vegetables.
Dr Fatin also highlighted that certain professions that demand precise colour discrimination such as aviation or electrical work may be unsuitable for individuals with colour blindness.
"Individuals with colour blindness have limitations in professional careers which require high colour precision such as pilots and electricians," she added.
As a result, those affected often need to consider alternative career paths.
Adaptations and coping strategies
People with colour blindness develop various strategies to navigate daily life. She pointed out that instead of relying on colour cues, they may depend on position and labelling for instance, recognising traffic lights by their order rather than their colour.
"They can use technology such as colour identification apps like Color ID, Seeing AI, or Chromatic Glass, which use the phone camera to name colours.
"Memorisation and pattern recognition play crucial roles as well. Some individuals learn specific shapes or textures to distinguish items, such as memorising button placements or clothing tags," she said.
Specialised glasses, like EnChroma or Pilestone, Dr Fatin said can enhance colour contrast for some types of colour blindness, though their effectiveness varies.
Common misconceptions about colour blindness
Several myths persist about colour blindness, including the belief that affected individuals see only in black and white.
She also emphasised another misconception that only men can be colourblind, ignoring the rare but real cases in women.
She said many people wrongly assume that those who are colour blind could not do well in creative fields like art or design. In reality, she said many adapt and thrive in these areas.
The broader impact of colour blindness
In education, Dr Fatin highlighted that colour-coded materials like graphs and charts can be challenging for colour blind students. This, she said can sometimes lead teachers to wrongly assume that these students are not paying attention.
She said socially and emotionally, late diagnosis, particularly in girls, may result in frustration and diminished confidence.
"Sometimes, they feel left out or avoid visual activities like art, makeup, or design," she said.
Understanding the realities of colour blindness including its occurrence in women helps foster greater awareness and support for those affected.
By dispelling myths and promoting adaptive strategies, society can better accommodate the needs of individuals with this condition.
Download Sinar Daily application.Click Here!
