More Than Mismatched Socks

Color blindness may seem like a relatively innocuous malady, but it does pose some problems. Color blindness is generally passed from generation to generation and is more prevalent in men. People with color vision problems may find it difficult to distinguish between red and green stoplights and so have to concentrate more attentitively on their driving. Most color vision problems are inherited which means that the color sensing cone cells in the retina are not functioning properly, in which case there is no effective treatment other than wearing color enhancing lenses. But when color blindness is caused by cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, addressing the underlying condition may help ease the symptoms.