Color blindness occurs primarily due to genetic factors or damage to the eye’s cone cells. The most common types include:
- Red-green color blindness – affecting about 8% of males and 0.5% of females
- Blue-yellow color blindness – much rarer and affecting both genders equally
- Complete color blindness (achromatopsia) – extremely rare
Genetic color blindness is typically inherited through the X chromosome, which explains why males are more commonly affected. Acquired color blindness can result from eye injuries, certain diseases, medication side effects, or aging. While there’s no cure for genetic color blindness, special glasses and digital tools can help affected individuals better distinguish colors in their daily lives.