PREVALENCE OF COLOR BLINDNESS IN STUDENTS: ISFAHAN – 1999

Abstract

Introduction. The light waves stimulates the retinal cell and eventually the brain cortex will interpret it to a color vision. Color vision defects can be congenital or acquired. Congenital types have a lifelong constant state (Severity). These patients almost always have red-green defect. These types are sex-linked, and according to the existing data have a prevalence of 8 percent in males and 0.5 percent in females. Acquired color vision defects are frequently of blue-yellow type and have an equal prevalence in males and females.
Methods. This is a descriptive study and includes 1500 male and 1500 female students of 34 Isfahan high schools, in 1378. We used the "lshihara test" for the evaluation of color vision in these cases. Results. Prevalence of color blindness was 4.2 percent in males and 0.33 percent in female cases.
Discussion. These findings are very different from what are registered in our references; so we recommend to perform the "Ishihara test" (which has a low cost) and job consultation for all males before entering their occupational field. This can help them to have a better selection, more suitable job and less problems because of their probable color vision defects.