Imagine your child is in class, sorting crayons for an art project, and they mix up red and green. It might seem like a simple mistake, but for kids with color blindness, this can be an everyday challenge. Color blindness is a common vision problem that affects how children see and interact with the world—and understanding it is the first step in helping your child succeed.
What Causes Color Blindness?
Color blindness occurs when certain cells in the eye do not work properly. While many people think of color blindness as seeing the world in black and white, it usually means a person has trouble seeing the difference between specific colors, especially red and green or blue and yellow.
This condition is often inherited from a parent, but it can also happen due to illnesses, injuries or some medicines. It’s more common in boys—about 1 in 12 boys are color blind, compared to 1 in 200 girls. This is because the gene for color blindness is carried on the X chromosome. Most cases are mild, but some cases can make daily life more difficult.
Signs of Color Blindness
As a parent, you should be aware of signs that may signal color blindness in your child. A few common symptoms include:
- Confusing colors, especially reds and greens or blues and yellows.
- Sensitivity to bright lights and certain color combinations
- Reading issues with colored pages or worksheets with color on color
If you notice these signs, you should have your child’s vision checked by an eye doctor (either an optometrist or ophthalmologist).
How Does Color Blindness Affect Learning?
Color blindness can make it difficult for children to learn, especially in the classroom. Kids with color blindness might have trouble with activities that rely on color, like reading worksheets with colored text or understanding charts that use red and green. Assignments that use color to show differences, like sorting colored objects, may also be hard.
If you’ve noticed your child is having some trouble in school, there are easy ways to help! Ask their teachers to use shapes or labels instead of color. You can also help your child with activities that use color by describing what they are seeing or using physical objects.
There are more tools that can help your child manage color blindness. For example, there are special apps that help them name colors, and some schools offer different types of resources that are easier to read. Plus, you can use colored filters on screens or assign symbols and numbers next to colors to help them recognize what they are seeing.
Supporting Your Child
If your child is diagnosed with color blindness, let them know that it’s just a different way of seeing the world. While it might be challenging some of the time, your child can still do everything they want to—whether it’s playing sports, learning new things or making friends. Encourage your child to ask for help when they need it and work closely with their teachers and school administrators to get the help they need. You can also look for resources, such as books or websites, to help them learn more about color blindness.
Children with color blindness can be very successful. With understanding and support, your child can thrive at school and with their friends. If you think your child may be color blind, schedule an exam with their eye doctor. Catching things early can make a big difference!
This blog was written in collaboration with Dr. John Lahr, medical director at EyeMed Vision Care which administers Delta Dental of Arizona’s DeltaVision plans. Dr. Lahr has 50 years of experience in eye care delivery and vision care.
