Color blindness, scientifically known as color blindness, is an alteration of the retina that can occur in both men and women and causes symptoms such as decreased vision, excessive sensitivity to light, and difficulty seeing colors.
Unlike color blindness, in which the person cannot distinguish certain colors, acromatopsia can completely prevent observation of colors other than black, white and certain shades of gray, due to a dysfunction present in cells that process light and color vision, called cones.
- Color blindness usually occurs from birth because its main cause is a genetic alteration.
- However.
- In some rarer cases.
- Color blindness can also be acquired in adulthood due to brain damage.
- Such as tumors.
- For example.
Although acromatopsia is not cured, the ophthalmologist may recommend treatment with the use of special glasses that help improve vision and relieve symptoms.
In most cases, symptoms can begin to appear in the first weeks of life, becoming more apparent as the child grows. Some of these symptoms include:
In more severe cases, rapid eye movements from side to side can also occur.
In some cases, diagnosis can be difficult because the person may not be aware of their situation and not seek medical help. In children, it may be easier to perceive acromatopsia when they have difficulty learning colors in school.
The main cause of color blindness is a genetic alteration that prevents the development of cells, of the eye, which allow the observation of colors, called cones, when the cones are completely affected, acromatopsia is complete and, in these cases, is visible only in black and white, however, when the change in the cones is less severe, the vision may be affected but still allows to distinguish certain colors , called partial acromatopsia.
Because it is caused by a genetic change, the disease can be passed from parent to child, but only if there are cases of achromatopsia in the parent’s family, even if they do not have the disease.
In addition to genetic changes, there are also cases of color blindness that appear in adulthood due to brain damage, such as tumors or from taking a drug called hydroxychloroquine, commonly used in rheumatic diseases.
Diagnosis is usually made by an ophthalmologist or pediatrician, simply by observing symptoms and color tests, however, it may be necessary to perform a vision test, called electroretinography, which allows to evaluate the electrical activity of the retina, by power to reveal if the cones work properly.
Currently, this disease has no treatment, so the goal is based on the relief of symptoms, which can be done with the use of special glasses with dark lenses that help improve vision while reducing light. , improving sensitivity. .
In addition, it is recommended to wear a hat on the street to reduce light in the eyes and avoid activities that require a lot of visual acuity, as they can get tired quickly and cause feelings of frustration.
In order for the child to have a normal intellectual development, it is advisable to inform teachers about the problem, so that they can always sit in the front row and offer materials with large letters and numbers, for example.