Since colour blindness is not a disease but a condition, colour vision testing isn’t taken as seriously by patients — or sometimes even by ophthalmologists. Colour blindness isn’t even actual blindness in over 90% of affected individuals, but rather a deficiency of hues in the spectrum that a person is able to process.

And though it may not get much attention as a threat to the general well-being of the public, patients should indeed get tested. And to help out, every ophthalmologist should carry the following colour vision testing supplies.

Ishihara colour vision testing plate set

The Ishihara test is the most commonly recognized test; schoolchildren all over the world will likely have seen it at some point, though perhaps never in a formal individual testing situation.

The test is a set of plates with coloured dots that, in normal vision, show numbers or letters or other images. This ophthalmology test is used to help determine colour deficiency when a patient is unable to discern the images in the dot matrix.

These colour-dotted plates test for protan and deutan defects. The red dots with the green dots that form the number seven, for example, will be obvious to a normal-vision person — but will not appear to show anything at all to a Strong Deutan.

There are varying degrees, of course, so the Ishihara is not the strongest test for determining severity; it’s a better indicator of whether or not the colour vision deficiency exists at all. Again, it’s easy for someone to go through life without realising they have the deficiency at all.

But in some professions, it’s important to be aware of any colour vision deficiencies. The Ishihara test is ideal for commercial or industrial colour screening, for example. Of course, images of these tests can be found all over the Internet. So why purchase this product at all?

Primarily because a professionally printed version will help ensure better results (a computer screen emits light, and is quite different from seeing the test on a page). At the same time, presentation matters. Ophthalmologists build trust with professional, high quality materials in the clinic, and trust is necessary to convince some patients to take the test at all.

Third edition city university colour vision test

The City University Colour Vision Test is derived from another popular colour arrangement book and improves upon it. It is a book of plates displaying one central colour and four peripheral colours. The idea is for the patient to select which of the four peripheral dots most closely resembles the central dot.

This colour vision testing solution is intended to determine severity of deficiency in colour vision. The City University Colour Vision Test shows colours in the protan, deutan and tritan spectrums. On these plates, differences are stronger in the green and red areas. The City University test also assesses patients with blue-yellow colour blindness.

The purpose of this test is to gauge the level and degree of the colour vision deficiency for further diagnosis and what treatment — if any — can be employed for various outcomes. The test is somewhat based on the assumption or a previous assessment.

Significant tritan vision deficiencies can be found when the test is used collaboratively with the Ishihara colour vision test. Patients with only mild colour vision deficiency will most likely pass the City University test. As sold by Keeler USA, the City University test also comes with a screening option. You can order the test online or contact Keeler at 800-523-5620.

Scientific and interpersonal improvements are ongoing in any scientific field, and ophthalmology is no exception. The third edition of the City University test is the most advanced to date. It is more accurate in helping ophthalmologists assess patients’ conditions, and swifter to carry out, which is more convenient for patients.

Why use colour vision testing supplies?

Though a small percentage of people suffer from colour blindness, it’s important to get tested. Sometimes the condition is genetic and present since birth. Other times, colour blindness can be gradually acquired later in life, caused by a variety of factors, including diseases like diabetes or multiple sclerosis. Roughly 1 in 200 women worldwide are colour blind to some degree, and roughly 1 in 12 men are color blind.

So, while it may not seem like an overwhelming necessity to the majority of ophthalmologists to be prepared to assess patients for colour blindness, it may indeed be of great importance to the patient. So be prepared, and don’t get caught without these essential clinic colour vision testing supplies!

Contact Keeler for colour vision testing supplies

When it comes to helping your patients see the world in full colour, Keeler will help ensure you have everything you need. We are the leading manufacturer of a range of cutting-edge ophthalmic instruments, including:

• Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopes
• Bulbs & LEDs
• Cryo Systems
• Sight and Color Vision Testing
• Surgical Loupes & Lights
• Slit Lamps
• Diagnostic Handhelds
• Pachymeters
• Tonometry equipment
• Ultrasound Equipment
• And more

Contact Keeler today to learn more.