Clinical Optometric Procedures: Color Vision
OPTOMETRY · SEMESTER 2 Clinical Optometric Procedures: Color Vision Visual Optics and Assessment START READING NOTES Contents of This Topic Clinical Optometric Procedures: Color Vision Pseudoisochromatic Plates DEFECTIVE COLOR VISION Deuteranomalous Trichromacy Protanope 1 (0.01) Normal 92 (910.6) Optimum COLOR VISION TESTING Pseudoisochromatic Plates Table 10.2 Ishihara Pseudoisochromatic Score Chart Protan Deutan OS: 1,2,4,6,8,10,12,14 Color Arrangement Tests Farnsworth D-15 Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue SECTION B – VISUAL FUNCTION ASSESSMENT Clinical Optometric Procedures: Color Vision CHAPTER 10 – COLOR VISION This chapter includes a review of: Normal color vision Defective color vision Color vision testing Pseudoisochromatic Plates Color Arrangement Tests INTRODUCTION Color vision is the visual function that allows one to perceive variation among the physical wavelengths of light that compile the visible spectrum. NORMAL COLOR VISION Persons with normal color vision are termed trichromats. Trichromats have 3 different divisions of cone photoreceptors within the retina which contain photopigments to absorb the wavelengths of light within the visible spectrum. Erythrolabe refers to the photopigment that absorbs red wavelengths. Chlorolabe refers to the photopigment that absorbs green wavelengths. Cyanolabe refers to the photopigment that absorbs blue wavelengths. All the spectral hues can be matched by an additive mixture of the three primary colors taken from the long-wave (red), medium-wave (green), and short-wave (blue) parts of the spectrum (Fig.10.1). Figure 10.1 Colors of the rainbow viewed by an individual with normal color vision International Centre for Eyecare Education DEFECTIVE COLOR VISION Defective color vision is either congenital or acquired. Congenital Color Deficiencies Approximately 4% of the total population has congenital color deficiencies out of which about 95% are males. Deficiencies may present as a partial abnormality which is more common, or as a complete absence of specific cone photopigments which comprise the retinal pigment system. Certain abbreviations are designated to each portion of the retinal pigment system: Prot refers to the red or erythrolabe cone photopigment system Deut refers to the green or chlorolabe cone photopigment system Trit refers to the blue or cyanolabe cone photopigment system There are three different types of color deficiency that are based on how many colors of the cone pigment system it takes to make a color match on an anomaloscope, a device specifically used to distinguish the various color deficiencies. The patient must adjust the ratio of red and green lights to match a yellow light in terms of hue, brightness and saturation. Types of Color Deficiencies Monochromacy Monochromats have an absence of two or all three cone photopigments. There are two types, the rod or typical monochromat and the cone or atypical monochromat. The rod monochromat has no functioning photopic system. Persons with rod monochromatism generally have macular dysfunction, nystagmus and low vision. The cone monochromat has one functioning cone photopigment of the photopic system. Persons with cone monochromatism may be further characterized as red, green or blue monochromats. The red or green monochromat has reduced but adequate visual acuity while the blue monochromat has very poor visual acuity. All types of monochromatism which are extremely rare lead to no available color discrimination (Fig.10.2b). A B Figure 10.2 (a) Colors of the rainbow viewed by an individual with normal color vision; (b) Colors of the rainbow viewed by an individual with monochromatism Dichromats have an absolute defect or complete absence of one portion of the cone pigment system. Dichromatism is further separated into Protanopia, Deuteranopia and Tritanopia. In all dichromats there is a neutral point within the spectrum. Under photopic conditions, it is the point that appears achromatic. There is no hue present at the neutral point because it is the position where the remaining 2 photopigments are balanced. Protanopia is an abnormality of erythrolabe. There exists a major luminosity loss on the red end of the spectrum. These individuals experience color confusions or difficulty discriminating between green, yellow and red. For example, the color red is perceived as a darker color perhaps similar to brown (Fig. 10.3b). Finally, their spectral sensitivity shifts towards shorter wavelengths. International Centre for Eyecare Education A B Figure 10.3 (a) Colors of the rainbow viewed by an individual with normal color vision; (b) Colors of the rainbow viewed by an individual with protanopia Deuteranopia is an abnormality of chlorolabe. There is a luminosity loss in the green portion of the spectrum. These individuals experience color confusions or difficulty discriminating between green, yellow and red (Fig.10.4b). Their spectral sensitivity does not shift. A B Figure 10.4 (a) Colors of the rainbow viewed by an individual with normal color vision; (b) Colors of the rainbow viewed by an individual with deuteranopia Tritanopia is an abnormality of the cyanolabe. There exists a major luminosity loss on the blue end of the spectrum (Fig.10.5b). Their spectral sensitivity shifts towards longer wavelengths. A B Figure 10.5 (a) Colors of the rainbow viewed by an individual with normal color vision; (b) Colors of the rainbow viewed by an individual with tritanopia Anomalous trichromacy Anomalous Trichromats have a partial defect or alteration of one portion of the cone photopigment system. Anomalous Trichromats are further separated into: Protanomalous trichromacy Deuteranomalous Trichromacy Tritanomalous Trichromacy The colors matches of anomalous trichromats appear a little different due to the weakness but there are no confusions in color. Persons with these types of defects generally disagree on exact shades of color. International Centre for Eyecare Education Table 10.1 Classification of Congenital Color Deficiency Designation (based on number of cone photopigments) Prevalence Male (female) Hue Discrimination 1 Monochromat Typical or Rod 0.003 Absent Atypical, Incomplete or Cone 0.000001 Absent 2 Dichromat Protanope 1 (0.01) Deuteranope 1 Severely impaired (0.01) Tritanope 0.002 3 Trichromat Anomalous (2 normal; 1 defective) Protanope 1 (0.01) Variable impairment Deuteranope 5 (0.25) Tritanope trace Normal 92 (910.6) Optimum Acquired Color Vision Deficiencies Acquired color deficiencies are usually associated with trauma, drug toxicity or disease. These all have the potential of affecting the retina or optic nerve. Persons with acquired color deficiencies most frequently present with a blue-yellow defect. The color deficiency may be present