Ask the Optician

My grand-daughters colour vision seems fine but optician says she is colour blind!

On 6 February 2012 by Simon Kay

Question

My daughter-in-law insists that her optician said that my grand-daughter is colour blind. I find this difficult to believe because since she was small enough to draw - she is seven now - she has had absolutely no trouble in identifying colours of every variety from a very large box of mixed felt pens and coloured pencils when she is staying with me! What can she be talking about please?

Answer Written answer:
Qualified optometrist Simon Kay BSc(Hons) MCOptom answers this question.

It is unusual for a girl to be colour deficient. In boys the incidence is about ten per cent of the population, in girls it is about 0.5 per cent. Girls tend to have a more subtle less obvious form or colour deficiency, so in your grand-daughter it may only be slight, but colour vision tests can reveal the problem. You should do the Ishihara test online with your daughter. Bear in mind that this won't be very accurate because every computer screen portrays colours differently. You may be surprised! The link is below:

http://www.colour-blindness.com/colour-blindness-tests/ishihara-colour-test-plates/

Optician's Biography

Simon Kay BSc(Hons) MCOptom has been a qualified Optometrist for over 30 years, and has a vast experience of almost all aspects of optometry. He joined Specsavers Opticians in 1993 first in Liverpool and for 15 years as a director of Lancaster and Morecambe. He served on many panels and committees whilst a director, including those responsible for IT design and professional advancement. He was regional chairman of the North West directors of Specsavers for over 12 years and as such was involved in almost all aspects of optometry on a business and professional level. He has been involved on the Local Optical Committee for many years and is currently Vice Chairman in his area.

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