Pediatric Optometry: Take Your Child For Colour Vision Testing

Pediatric Optometry: Take Your Child For Colour Vision Testing

Colour blindness is the inability to see some colours. This condition is hereditary instead of developed, and it is most common in boys, although it is still possible for girls to be colour blind. Although this condition does limit a person’s colour vision, in general, this condition is considered harmless. Colour blindness does not progress or become worse, it does not affect the health of the eyes, and it does not make someone more susceptible to other eye conditions. Despite this, it is still important to take your child for optometry testing, as knowing if they have colour blindness can help your child understand when they may need to ask for help to avoid being misunderstood.

Colour Blind Optometry Care

Types Of Colour Deficiencies
Colour blindness is commonly used as an all-encompassing term, but a more accurate term is colour deficiencies. Not everyone who is colour blind sees only black and white; in fact, it’s very rare. Most people have trouble seeing only a few shades. The main types of colour deficiencies are:

  • Red-Green
    People with red-green colour blindness tend to get the two colours mixed up, either because they both look green or red or even brown. This is the most common form of colour blindness.
  • Blue-Yellow
    This version of colour blindness makes it hard to see the difference between yellow and red as well as the difference between blue and green. This condition can also make it difficult for people to see the difference between purple and red or yellow and pink and tends to make colours look less bright in general.
  • Complete
    Also called monochromacy, this is the rarest form of colour blindness. People with this form of colour blindness see the world in shades of grey.

Diagnosing Colour Blindness
There are several optometry tests used to diagnose colour blindness.

  • Ishihara Test
    This test uses different images composed of dots. Some of the dots will be coloured differently and a person who can see all colour will be able to see a number, but someone who cannot see all colours will only see the dots.
  • The Colour Arrangement Test
    This test uses multiple moveable pieces. Each piece has a different colour on it and the pieces need to be placed in order of their shade.

Colour Blindness And Your Child
When your child first begins to learn, colour is often involved. Many preschool and kindergarten classrooms help children to learn their colours, they tend to have colourful classrooms to keep children engaged, and they do arts and crafts as a way to teach children and help them learn motor function skills. A child with complete colour blindness may struggle with these things, although other children learn to identify what they see as the colours they are told and they can get by. For example, your child may know that a fire truck is red because that’s what they’ve been told, but they may not actually see it as red. If you suspect that your child is colour blind or if you know there are colour blind family members, take your child to the optometrist for children’s optometry care.

Taking your child for their first eye exam?
Make sure you’re ready by reading
How To Prepare Your Child For A Visit To The Pediatric Optometrist.

 

Pediatric Optometry Can Diagnose Colour Blindness

If you suspect your child is colour blind, find out with pediatric optometry. Your optometrist will look for signs of colour blindness during a child’s eye exam, especially during an eye exam right before your child starts school. Knowing that your child is colour blind can help you accommodate for this during arts and crafts or even when reading colourful story books and it can help your child to understand the world around them and their perception. For pediatric optometry services and colour vision testing during a children’s eye exam, contact Specs in the City at 1-403-252-2020 or fill out the online contact form.
 

FAQ

Q: How much does a children’s eye exam cost?
A: Eye exams for children 18 and under are covered by Alberta Health.

Q: How is a children’s eye exam conducted?
A: Children’s eye exams are non-invasive and will not cause any discomfort. The eye doctor will examine the eye and take imaging for a more detailed look. Depending on the age of the child, the pediatric optometrist may ask them questions to answer. The parent may have to answer questions about family health history.

Q: What conditions will the pediatric optometrist test for?
A: Your pediatric optometrist will check for various eye health conditions including looking at the health of the retina, the blood vessels in the eyes, and more. The pediatric optometrist will be looking out for eye conditions that are most common in childhood, such as lazy eye. Read 5 Vision Problems A Children’s Eye Exam Will Test For to learn more.

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