About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

US-based Firm Develops Special Glasses for People With Color Blindness

by Mansi Shroff on April 30, 2015 at 4:11 PM
US-based Firm Develops Special Glasses for People With Color Blindness

Thousands of people with color blindness were given their first look into the colors red and green by tricking the brain with a pair of sunglasses.

EnChroma, based in Berkeley, north of San Francisco, developed the color blindness corrective gear two years ago and recently launched an upgraded model of sunglasses allowing users to play sports and is child-friendly, Xinhua reported.

Advertisement

Over 340 million people around the world suffer from color blindness, as the condition can hinder simple everyday activities, like driving.

"It's not a serious condition," EnChroma's vice president Donald McPherson told Xinhua. "But it can make simple tasks appear impossible for the color blind because they cannot make the distinction, for example, at traffic lights between red and green, and this is something that can be life-threatening."
Advertisement

Usually, color blind people are not allowed to work as policemen, firemen, pilots or electricians, because even though they can distinguish most of the colors, their brains mistake red and green, especially when they are faint hues. Those with normal color vision have three photo-pigments in their eyes that are responsible to capture the light, with the brain doing the math to transform them into the right color, whether it is blue, purple, yellow or red.

"Color blind people overlap the red and green pigments in the brain a lot, so they get muddied colors," McPherson said. To help the brain separate these hues, EnChroma developed a glass that divides red and green, cutting a little bit of light between the two colors.

With the corrective glass, McPherson said, "the normal wavelengths are restored because it captures the right pigments, making the brain understand which colors are there."

McPherson was a leading researcher at University of California at Berkeley working on the issue with a grant from the US National Institutes of Health. He received a doctoral degree in glass engineering and in 2010, after five years of extensive research, decided to start up a company with his colleagues and market their product, which had been a success in clinical trials.

"Color blindness is not just an aesthetic issue," he said. "It can even be mistaken as a learning disability in children, because books and classes are not prepared for people who cannot see red and green," he added.

The condition typically afflicts men because the recessive trait is passed on mainly to male offspring. According to statistics, one in 12 men is colour blind, while one out of every 34 women has the condition.

Source: Medindia
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Research News

Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks: Link to Traumatic Brain Injury and Dementia?
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are detected in approximately 1-3% of adults who have experienced a traumatic brain injury.
Astrocyte Activation Through Optogenetics: A New Hope in the Fight Against Alzheimer's
The optogenetic activation of hippocampal astrocytes can be viewed as a novel therapeutic avenue for addressing Alzheimer's disease.
Link Between Cholesterol and Inflammation in Alzheimer's Disease Identified
In Alzheimer's disease condition, the control and adjustment of ABCA7 levels in response to inflammation and the decrease in the availability of cholesterol.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Atopic Dermatitis Share Common Links
Atopic dermatitis (AD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can lead to alterations in the microbiome, and disruptions in the skin and gut barrier.
Vitiligo-Associated Autoimmunity Linked to Lower Health Risks
Gaining insights into mortality risks among vitiligo patients will enhance patient counseling, healthcare monitoring, and overall patient management strategies.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

US-based Firm Develops Special Glasses for People With Color Blindness Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests