Understanding tritanopia: Causes, symptoms, and the benefits of tritanopia glasses

What comes to mind when you hear the word "cone"? Is it a waffle cone filled with ice cream and colorful sprinkles? A dog wearing the cone of shame around its neck? Those orange cones you used to learn how to parallel park? In the eye care world, cones are light receptors located in the corneas. They help you see millions of colors, from periwinkle to chartreuse. If you have tritanopia, some of those cones are missing, making it difficult to see certain colors.

Overview of tritanopia

What is tritanopia?

Tritanopia, also known as blue-yellow color blindness, is a color vision deficiency that makes it difficult to perceive blue and yellow colors. Before you panic about never enjoying the beauty of the ocean or the sunflowers growing in your garden, you should know that tritanopia doesn't cause you to see everything in black and white. Instead, the condition makes it difficult to tell these colors apart:

• Blue and green
• Yellow and pink
• Purple and red

If you've ever gotten into an argument about whether the paint on the wall is teal or sea green, you may have tritanopia. Unlike other vision problems, tritanopia doesn't affect sharpness or clarity. However, it does affect brightness, so things may appear a little duller. You may also have trouble matching your clothes or choosing furniture that fits in with the rest of your décor.

Causes of tritanopia 

Most people have tritanopia due to a mutation of the OPN1SW gene. This gene is responsible for making some of the proteins found in the retina, the part of the eye that sends images to the brain. The proteins in question are sensitive to light in the blue spectrum, so they're necessary for distinguishing blue from other colors.

You may also develop tritanopia if you have one of the following conditions:

• Diabetes: Uncontrolled diabetes may damage the retina, interfering with your ability to perceive blue and yellow colors.
• Macular degeneration: The cone cells responsible for color perception are located in the macula, which is the center of the retina. Once the macula is damaged, it's more difficult to perceive colors.
• Cataracts: A cataract causes cloudiness of the lens, which may cause mild tritanopia.
• Traumatic brain injuries: The eyes and brain work together to help you understand the world around you. If you sustain a traumatic brain injury, you may not be able to see certain colors.

Tritanopia may also occur in people who take medication to treat high blood pressure, nervous system disorders, and bacterial infections.

Symptoms and diagnosis of tritanopia 

Common symptoms of tritanopia

The main symptom of tritanopia is that you can't tell certain colors apart. Blue appears green, purples appear to be deep red, and yellows and oranges look pink. Tritanopia also makes it difficult to distinguish shades of the same color. For example, if you look at fabric samples in three shades of green, they may look exactly the same. Finally, tritanopia makes it difficult to see brightness in the way that other people do.

Good news if you love all things Christmas: tritanopia doesn't affect your red-green color vision. It only affects your blue cone cells. Therefore, you should be able to drive without worrying about distinguishing a red light from a green one.

Diagnosis of tritanopia

If you have symptoms of tritanopia, your eye care professional may use Ishihara color plates to assess your color perception. Each plate contains a number made of dots. The number is a different color from the dots around it. If your color vision is normal, you should be able to see each number clearly. Because tritanopia affects your ability to perceive blue and yellow colors, you may have trouble with any plate that has blue or yellow in it.

The Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test is another testing option. To complete this test, you must arrange a series of color caps to create a smooth color gradient. A gradient shows the subtle transition from one color to the next. For example, if you're working with blue shades, the gradient may progress from baby blue all the way to cobalt blue. If you have tritanopia, you're likely to make mistakes as you try to distinguish one color from another.

If you're concerned about your color vision, it's important to have a professional eye exam. An experienced eye care professional knows how to administer and interpret these tests correctly.

Tritanopia glasses and color enhancement 

Understanding tritanopia glasses

Tritanopia glasses help with blue-yellow color blindness by filtering certain wavelengths of light. This technology makes it easier for your brain to differentiate one color from another. When you wear tritanopia glasses, colors also look more vibrant.

Benefits of tritanopia glasses

These glasses don't cure tritanopia but wearing them does make it a little easier to navigate the world. You may also have less trouble performing color-related tasks, such as choosing the perfect hue for an art project or finding a tie to go with your favorite suit.

Find the right lenses 

If you're like most people, you've never stopped to think about how amazing your eyes truly are. Without them, you wouldn't be able to do many of the activities you take for granted, such as driving, doing puzzles, or playing video games. Keep your eyes happy by using 1-800 Contacts to find your preferred brand of lenses.

FAQs

Can tritanopia be inherited?

Yes. If a parent has tritanopia, there's a 50% chance their child will also have the condition. Tritanopia usually occurs due to a mutation in the OPN1SW gene.

Can tritanopia glasses correct color vision completely?

Glasses don't correct your blue-yellow vision completely. They just make it easier to differentiate colors. If you take off the glasses, you'll continue to have trouble seeing blue and yellow.

Are tritanopia glasses available in prescription form?

Yes. Although you can buy tritanopia glasses without a prescription, some people don't feel comfortable purchasing without a recommendation from an eye care professional. Next time you have an eye exam, ask about getting a prescription for these helpful glasses.

Are tritanopia glasses effective for all individuals with tritanopia?

Tritanopia glasses aren't effective for everyone who has blue-yellow color blindness. If you have a severe color vision deficiency, you may not be able to differentiate colors well, even when you're wearing specialized glasses.