Color blindness occurs due to several factors, with genetics being the most common cause. The condition typically results from:
- Inherited genetic mutations affecting cone cell development
- Damage to the retina or optic nerve from disease or injury
- Age-related deterioration of cone cells
The most common form is red-green color blindness, affecting approximately 8% of males and 0.5% of females. This higher prevalence in males occurs because the genes for red and green color vision are located on the X chromosome. Complete color blindness (achromatopsia) is very rare, affecting about 1 in 30,000 people.