Color Vision Testing

Color vision testing assesses your ability to see and distinguish different colors. Color vision problems can be inherited (color blindness) or acquired from optic nerve and retinal conditions.

Why It's Done

• Detect optic nerve problems (optic neuritis, compressive neuropathy)
• Monitor LHON and other optic neuropathies
• Assess dominant optic atrophy
• Distinguish inherited from acquired color deficiency
• Screen for certain retinal conditions

Types of Color Vision Problems

Inherited (Color Blindness)

• Present from birth
• Usually red-green confusion
• Doesn't change over time
• More common in males

Acquired

• Develops later in life
• Suggests optic nerve or retinal disease
• May be red-green OR blue-yellow
• Can change with disease activity

Common Tests

Ishihara Plates

• Most common screening test
• Colored dots forming numbers
• Must identify number hidden in dots
• Primarily detects red-green problems

HRR (Hardy-Rand-Rittler) Plates

• Detects both red-green and blue-yellow
• Better for acquired color deficiency

Farnsworth D-15

• Arrange colored caps in order
• Detects moderate to severe problems

Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue

• Most sensitive test
• 85 colored caps to arrange
• Takes longer but very detailed

What to Expect

• Test done in good lighting
• Each eye tested separately
• Takes 5-15 minutes depending on test
• Wear any corrective lenses needed

Understanding Results

• Number of errors recorded
• Pattern of errors (which colors confused)
• Compared to previous tests if monitoring
• Helps track optic nerve function