Color blindness occurs when one or more types of cone cells in the retina don’t function properly. The most common causes include:
- Genetic inheritance – particularly affecting males through X-chromosome linked genes
- Age-related changes to the retina
- Eye injuries or diseases
- Certain medications
The most common type is red-green color blindness (deuteranomaly), affecting about 8% of males and 0.5% of females. Complete color blindness (achromatopsia) is rare. Color blindness isn’t curable, but special glasses and digital tools can help affected individuals distinguish colors better in daily life.