Question from Certified Engineering Technologist: Excellent site! I have just logged onto the internet, and have for years been looking for concrete information concerning colorblindness. I am a 43 year old white male who has some level of color deficiency, to what level, I don’t know. I have been in the electronics industry for eighteen years with absolutely no problem. It appears that people who are not color deficient seem to think that this should effect my employment capabilities. I think not and I have proven it many times.
My questions are: How many different types of color tests are available commercially that could conclusively determine my exact level of color deficiency? And should I think about changing employers and fail a colorblind exam as a pre-requisite to employment, do you know if my employer can deny me employment based on this “so called” physical disability?
They told me the lenses will indeed allow me to pass the Ishihara test, but they doubt that the FAA will allow me to wear the lenses in flight. Now I’m really confused. Any comments? Is this a viable product? If it is, then I’m willing to spend the money.
Answer: The 38 plate Ishihara Color Vision Test and the Pseudoisochromatic Plate Ishihara Compatible (PIPIC) Color Vision Test 24 Plate Edition are commercially available color vision tests for detecting, classifying, and estimating the degree of color vision deficiency. The PIPIC can test for all color vision deficiencies including tritan (blue) deficiencies. The Ishihara can only test for red/green deficiencies. Some Colleges of Optometry have an Anomaloscope (several thousands of dollars). It is the “most accurate means” of classifying and estimating the degree of color vision deficiency. The Anomaloscope can tell you if you are red weak or green weak and how severe the deficiency is – an anomalous trichromate or dichromate.
Applicants are routinely denied employment if they do not pass an employers required color vision test in many professions – airlines, train engineers, law enforcement, and in your line of work. Hopefully, that will change in the future.
Question from R.K.: Hello! My name is R.K. and I really appreciate your information on color blindness. I am one of those people who didn’t know they were color deficient until I took a test. 5 years ago I was hired as an ordinary seaman and had to obtain a Coast Guard endorsement. I could not pass the circle with multi colored dots test so I was given the yarn test which consisted of a shoebox full of little pieces of yarn and successfully picked out all the red and green yarn. My ordinary seaman’s card was issued. I tried the red contacts but they didn’t help
At this time I want to up-grade my license to Able Bodied Seaman but I am afraid to take another color test as regulations are getting stricter all the time and I feel it is possible I could lose my present license while trying to upgrade. This is my livelihood. I am 53 and have been on the water for 30 years, the first 25 on my own boats as a commercial fisherman and I never had a problem distinguishing between red, green and white lights which are the three used in all navigation aids. Do you know of any color blind tests that are more accurate for minor deficiencies? Or do you have any ideas or information that would help me in my dilemma?
After reading your excellent wed page I believe a “slight deuteranomaly” is my problem.
Answer: Thank you for your kind words about my website. The Farnsworth Lantern Color Vision Test is the Standard Color Vision Test for the Navy. It consists of white, red, and green lights. It is not as sensitive as the pseudoisochromatic plates (dots) and some mild deuteranomalous people can pass it. You may want to try this test “unofficially” to see if you can pass it. Most military bases with an eye clinic have one. Also, the Farnsworth Dichrotomus Test D-15 (made up of 15 different colored caps) is one of the easier tests to pass. Some agencies have quit using the D-15 because it was passing to many color deficient individuals (to many false negatives). Many agencies have also discontinued using the yarn test because the yarn had a tendency to fade and invalidated the test. The Ishihara, PIPIC 24 Plate Edition, Color Vision Testing Made Easy are very sensitive and the “hardest” tests to pass if you are even slightly color deficient. Thank you again and good luck
Question From James: My name is James and I am applying to be an officer in the US navy, I know that a colorblind test is administered, and I am worried that it may disqualify me. I have taken multiple tests and can distinguish some cards but not all. I know for the military they use the number cards ….is there any way to train for the test or to prepare for it your help would be greatly appreciated.
Answer: Hi James: You are not supposed to train for a color vision test. Its function is to determine if you have or do not have a color deficiency. You are right, if you are color deficient, you will not qualify for “some” positions in the Navy i.e. pilot, line officer, electrician, etc. You still qualify for others i.e. health care provider, lawyer, cryptographer, etc. and you can even get a waiver in some fields eg. flight surgeon etc.). Check with your recruiter. See if color deficiency is a disqualifier for the type of position you are applying. I hope this information is helpful, good luck.
Question From M.C.: I have been selected for appointment to the Indian Forest Service. But the medical board has found me unfit on account of defective colour vision.
According to the rules, “Low Grade ” colour vision is sufficient for the service. I would like to know how colour vision can be graded as low or high. I can correctly identify 28 out of 38 Ishihara plates. Under lower light intensity, I can identify a few more plates. Please give your comment on this. Also please let me know about the Edridge Green Lantern test and the colours in the lantern. The board has called me for a re-examination . Please advise me how to face it.
Answer: The majority (about 5% of the 8%) of color deficient individuals are deuteranomalous – mild “low grade” color deficient.
The PIPIC 24 Plate Edition and 38 plate Ishihara Color Vision Test have a plate at the end that estimates the type and severity of your defect. Also, the original “AO” H-R-R Pseudo-Isochromatic Plate Test (not the current Richmond HRR third edition – it has been found to give questional diagnoses), and the Anomaloscope (found at some Optometry Colleges) can quantify the type and severity of a color vision deficiency.
The discontinued “Edridge Green Lantern test” was replaced by the Farnsworth Lantern Color Vision Test. The Farnsworth Lantern uses three colored lights (red, green, and white). You are shown two lights at a time, one about the other, 9 times. The Farnsworth Lantern is not as sensitive of a test and some, not all, mild deuteranomalous individuals can pass it compared to the Ishihara. The Lantern was designed to salvage applicants who have “acceptable” color vision deficiencies for Naval Service. I hope this information is helpful and good luck.
Question From D.H.: Hello. I recently lost my dream job from being color blind working in train service for the railroad. I could only pass four of fourteen plates. Will there ever be a cure or something to wear that will correct this? What kind of colorblindness do I have based on the fourteen plates I was tested for on for my physical. I do see color especially red, blue, green, & yellow. Those are the colors the railroads use. It doesn’t seem fair to loose employment when you can see the colors that you will be using clearly. Is there anything I can do?
Question From Brandon: Just wanted to thank you for you great site and share my story with your readers with color problems who may be interested in law enforcement jobs.
I didn’t know that I was color blind until my air force physical, which I quickly blew off as a mistake. Later, while in Germany I was trying to get my military license and I ran into my first instance of ignorance related to color vision. When the clerk (not a trained or qualified person) gave me the tests I failed and he loudly announced that I had failed and that I couldn’t get my license because I was color blind.
That was in 1988 and ever since then my life has been ruled by color vision, which I don’t even see as a problem. Every employer seems to think that they must have color vision test and a prerequisite for employment but they or the doctors rarely do more than hold up the Farnsworth dichotomous D-15 test and check pass or fail without so much as a care in the world. Eye doctors are much better but you rarely have a choice as to who does your test.
I knew that I didn’t have a problem with color vision, as I can see colors fine. (this is hard to believe for those who think color blind is color blind or the absolute absence of color in vision). Therefore, I did not give up on my goal of becoming a police officer. I finished my military service and then went to college. After I graduated from college I put myself through the Michigan police academy (then called MLEOTC).
During my physical I failed the test and the doctor sent me to the malls eye glass store to be tested. When the clerk (another untrained person) held up the same test I passed. She had traced with a pen or pencil the numbers while demonstrating color vision so I passed. This confused my doctor but she signed off on it anyway, which is how I got into the academy.
After graduating in the top 10% of my class, I applied for a job with a local department and was hired. I worked the job before my physical and when I was given the notice to get my physical I knew I would be fired due to the test so I paid for my own physical in my hometown and went to a trained eye doctor to be tested. I knew I wasn’t color blind. He tested me and I then learned I was deficient (blue/green). He passed me. I will now only go to an eye doctor. I refuse to be tested by a clerk, nurse, or medical doctor.
Anyway, back to my point. There was a law suit by a cadet in Michigan who wasn’t as fortunate as me ( I don’t know the case cite). He sued a won, which is why Michigan has changed their standards. I wish there was a federal suit to change the standards nationwide because we are losing many well educated and qualified people due to a medical condition that millions suffer from. One that rarely affects life or job skills.
I have been an exceptional officer for seven years with two departments. I have never had a problem due to my condition and I have done and seen everything that one can imagine in police work. I am a highly trained and educated officer and I am currently working on my masters degree so that I can be an effective leader someday.
Color blindness and deficiency have been demonized in our society and it has become an embarrassing and stress causing factor in life that should not be so. It is the only medical problem that employers are apparently able to discriminate against one with. This has to stop and it will only do so when we do have a federal lawsuit.
For those of you who are hoping to be a police officer or anything else that requires “normal color vision” my advice is to fight. Do not give up no matter what. Try different doctors, ask for different test, and if you must-sue.
Thank you and feel free to give out my email address as I would love to hear from others who have suffered as I have over this matter.
Brandon Roadofc@chartermi.net
Question From Simon: I’ve just read your site and I seem to be in a similar position as many other people. Like them I’m being turned away from my dream job because of these colour tests. I applied for a commission in the Royal Marines and after a year and a half of hard training and wanting nothing else I passed all the selection tests and was told I would probably get a place. They then did the medical and told me my colour perception was not good enough. I was gutted, I still am. Since then I’ve read about it all and been tested again. It’s like nobody understands what its like. I see colours like anybody else, I see red, I see green. Its only these tests that I fail. But the worst bit is that their seem to be no practical situations in which this “problem” is actually a problem. And so its like they are saying “Sorry you can’t join because you’ve got brown hair or because your birthday is in March”. I even asked the selection officer eactly what it was in the job that I couldn’t do and he couldn’t give me an answer. It doesn’t seem like a problem but more like discrimination. I’ve read in so many places that colour deficient people can carry out tasks in real life just as well as “normal” colour visioned people. So exactly what is the problem? I would love to know.
Answer: To answer your question, I am simply quoting from my website What is Colorblindness. I hope you find it helpful.
Many people think anyone labeled as “colorblind” only sees black and white – like watching a black and white movie or television. This is a big misconception and not true. It is extremely rare to be totally color blind (monochromasy – complete absence of any color sensation). There are many different types and degrees of colorblindness – more correctly called color deficiencies.
From a practical stand point though, many protanomalous and deuteranomalous people breeze through life with very little difficulty doing tasks that require normal color vision. Some may not even be aware that their color perception is in any way different from normal. The only problem they have is passing that “Blank Blank” color vision test.
****** Of the 8% of the male population, about 5% of them are protanomalous and deuteranomalous.
You are right, it is not fair. More research is needed to classify and quantify color deficiencies to set more “reasonable” guide-lines for job qualifications. One in twelve males are classified as color deficient and a large percentage are being treated unfairly. I personally know of many individuals classified as color deficient working in jobs that “required” normal color vision for 20 or more years that never had any problems performing said job. They were hired “before” color vision was an issue. I hope we see change in the future.
Statement from M.M.
I think the color blind tests for small children is a wonderful idea. As a child I grew up wanting to be a police officer. It wasn’t until I had entered the army and after completing college did I take my first color blindness test and realize I was color deficient. I never knew since I can see primary colors okay. I did realize my dream…but not with a large well paying department as I had hoped, had I known of the color blindness I might have spent four years and several thousands of dollars preparing for a career where color deficiency didn’t make a difference to those who did the hiring. What a difference a test at an early could have made.
Statement from Robert: I am a 31 yr. old color deficient airline pilot. I fly big jets for a large national airline. I am living proof that things like this only stop you if you let them. After college I already had all of my civilian licenses and a FAA medical and I ran into my first discrimination when I tried to join the air force to fly. They said that I didn’t meet their criteria for flying their airplanes. I fly one of the most complex glass cockpits in the world (the flight instruments are all multi colored CRT displays) and I have never had trouble distinguishing any color. As a matter of fact I had never had any trouble with color discrimination of any type. I think that in this day and age it is a disgrace that people are denied opportunities that they can clearly handle because of someone else’s discriminatory ideas. I want you to post this story because when the air force flight surgeon discovered my deficiency he told me I could probably do well in many other occupations. The flight surgeons’ attitude about what I could accomplish based on his 5 minute exposure to me really forged my determination. DON’T LET OTHER PEOPLE LIMIT YOUR OPTIONS. ONLY YOU CAN DO THIS. Good Luck to everyone.
Information for prospective pilots by Richard J. Hackman, O.D.,CDR MSC USN, CFI, CFII, MEI
Great Website with lots of useful information. I just have a few comments on the signal light test for prospective aviation pilots. In general, this is a very easy test to pass (though I have known of examiners who have administered the test incorrectly), but the caveat is that a candidate is only given two chances to pass it. It is truly a test of last resort.
A candidate should try one of the alternate color vision tests allowed by the FAA before attempting the signal light test. With the exception of the Farnsworth Lantern (FALANT), all the preferred and alternate color vision tests are pseudoisochromatic plates (PIPs) or variants of them. The FALANT is a vocational type of color vision test. Whereas the PIPs fail about 8 – 10% of the male population, the FALANT fails only 5 – 7%. The problem for the civilian airman is finding a facility that has a FALANT. Most civilians don’t own one as the current selling price is about $5000. With PIPs selling for under $300 its easy to figure out which test the Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) is going to purchase for his/her practice.
The most likely place to find a FALANT is at a military medical facility. The Optometry or Ophthalmology Departments usually have one, as does the Physical Exams Department. The question then arises, “Can a civilian be tested at a military medical facility?” The answer is “yes” as long as the Commanding Officer says its OK. When I was stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy, I had such an arrangement set-up. It was good public relations for the Academy and it really didn’t impact the mission as only one or two civilian airman candidates were tested each year.
I would highly recommend that if a candidate needs color vision testing beyond that given by the AME, the AME, not the pilot candidate, contact the nearest military medical facility and arrange for a FALANT test. The AME is in a better position than the pilot candidate is to make these arrangements, since the AME can talk doctor-to-doctor with the facility. The AME may need to talk to the Senior Medical Officer, or even the Commanding Officer, to make it happen, but it can happen. I find it hard to imagine that a military medical facility would not be willing to help out, especially since they’d be getting some positive PR out of it.
Statement
I do have the red/green deficiency and also have held an Airline Transport Pilots rating based on a waiver for color vision for over 20 years, a commercial for over 30 years and private pilot for 40+ years. I have logged thousands of hours of night, instrument and on occasion emergencies by light gun signals. Aspiring pilots should go to a small controlled field, talk to the controller and ask for assistance with light guns pointed at you on the ramp at night. Know what your white, green and red look like even if different than others.
Most controllers will gladly assist on a slow boring evening. The FAA office administering the waiver will ask chart color differential. Talk with someone and know what your magenta and other colors look like. A waiver should be easy with preparation. The handicap of color vision is something that can be overcome. My color vision is bad…some clothes combinations are….well, lets say not the best..Ha Ha!
I am also an avid photographer both underwater and land…takes a little work, software and asking opinions and assistance at times. Colorblind…if you have it…deal with it…it can be overcome in most cases.