Acquired colour blindness is a disturbance of colour vision that develops after birth due to disease, injury, or medication effects rather than inherited changes. It often affects one eye more than the other and may progress or improve over time.
Causes and Patterns
Conditions that can cause acquired colour defects include optic nerve disease, macular disorders, glaucoma, and exposure to certain drugs or toxins. The pattern of colour loss frequently differs from the classic red-green changes seen in many inherited forms.
- May be associated with reduced visual acuity or visual field loss
- Blue-yellow defects are particularly common in acquired cases
- Colour changes can accompany optic neuritis or ischaemic optic neuropathy
- Standard colour vision tests help document severity and type
Management
Treatment is directed at the underlying condition wherever possible. Colour vision may partially recover if the cause is reversible, but permanent deficits can remain after structural damage.
- Review of medications and systemic health is important in new cases
- Regular monitoring can track changes over time
- Colour filters or labelling strategies can help with practical tasks
- Occupational guidance may be needed when colour discrimination is safety-critical
