Colour vision is an often-overlooked aspect of eye health, yet it plays a vital role in everyday activitiesfrom recognising traffic lights to reading colour-coded medication labels. Many people with colour vision deficiency (commonly called colour blindness) may not even realise they have it. In the UAE, where safety, education, and professional success might be strongly linked to proper colour perception.
What is Colour Vision Deficiency?
Colour vision deficiency occurs when the eye’s light-sensitive cells, known as cones, do not detect colours accurately. This can result in difficulty distinguishing between certain shades, most often reds and greens, or sometimes blues and yellows.
There are several types:
Red–Green Deficiency – The most common form, affecting perception of these hues.
Blue–Yellow Deficiency – Less common, but can impact the ability to tell blues from greens or yellows from reds.
Complete Colour Blindness – Rare, where colours appear only in shades of grey.
Some people are born with colour vision deficiency due to inherited factors, while others may develop it later in life because of eye disease, certain medications, or injury to the eye or brain.
Why Screening Matters in the UAE
Supports Children in Learning – Colour-coded charts, textbooks, and activities are widely used in schools. Detecting deficiencies early can prevent academic challenges.
Ensures Safety – From driving to recognising safety signs, accurate colour perception is essential for avoiding hazards.
Professional Requirements – Careers in aviation, healthcare, design, and engineering often require accurate colour recognition.
Empowers Personal Awareness – Knowing you have a deficiency allows you to use strategies and tools to work around it.
Types of Colour Blindness Tests
1. Ishihara Test
A set of plates filled with dots of varying colours and sizes, forming numbers or shapes. People with certain deficiencies will be unable to see specific figures.
2. Anomaloscope
A specialist device that measures the exact type and degree of colour vision deficiency by asking the patient to match different light colours.
3. Hue Arrangement Tests
Patients arrange coloured tiles or discs in a specific order, revealing subtle perception differences.
4. Lantern and Signal Tests
Designed for occupations where recognising coloured lights or signals is critical, such as maritime or aviation roles.
5. Digital Screening Tools
While online tests can be a quick way to check for possible issues, only a clinical eyesight test can confirm an accurate diagnosis.
Managing Colour Vision Deficiency
While there is no cure for inherited forms of colour blindness, modern solutions can help manage its impact:
Specialised Lenses – Tinted glasses or contact lenses that enhance colour contrast.
Digital Filters – Apps and device settings that adjust colour presentation.
Adaptive Strategies – Labelling, pattern recognition, or memorisation techniques for daily tasks.
How Mediclinic Supports Your Eye Health
At Mediclinic, our comprehensive eye test service includes a colour vision test as part of your examination. Our approach includes:
Accurate clinical testing using validated methods
Clear explanations of results and implications
Personalised advice on tools, lifestyle adjustments, and workplace adaptations
Guidance for parents to support children with colour vision challenges
Colour vision testing is one of the simplest yet most impactful steps you can take to safeguard your eye health. While many people assume that colour blindness only affects a small portion of the population or that it is always obvious, the reality is quite different, mild deficiencies can go undetected for years. You may have developed strategies without realising it, such as memorising traffic light positions or relying on text labels instead of colours. However, these adaptations do not replace the value of an accurate diagnosis and professional guidance.
For children in the UAE, early screening is particularly important. Schools often use colour-coded charts, educational tools, and digital learning platforms where colour plays a key role in comprehension. A child who struggles to distinguish between colours may be mistakenly thought to have a learning difficulty or lack of focus, when in fact, the challenge is visual. With an early diagnosis, teachers and parents can make simple adjustments, such as using patterns, textures, or labels, that remove unnecessary barriers to learning.
In professional environments, the stakes can be even higher. In fields such as aviation, engineering, healthcare, and design, precise colour recognition is not just a convenience but a requirement for safety and accuracy. Even in everyday tasks, identifying spoiled food, interpreting medication packaging, reading warning labels, clear colour perception can influence health outcomes.
Getting tested does not only mean discovering whether or not you have a deficiency; it also opens the door to practical solutions. Specialised eyewear, workplace modifications, digital tools, and personalised coping strategies can significantly improve quality of life. Even for individuals with perfect colour vision, regular eye tests help detect other potential concerns early, from refractive errors to more serious conditions like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.
At Mediclinic, our commitment is to ensure that every patient has access to accurate, reliable, and comfortable screening. We use clinically validated colour vision tests alongside comprehensive eye examinations, giving you a complete picture of your visual health. Whether you are taking the test for the first time or monitoring an existing condition, our medical professionals will provide you with clear results, actionable advice, and ongoing support.
Your eyesight is too valuable to leave unchecked. Scheduling a colour vision test is a quick, straightforward step that can protect your safety, enhance your daily life, and give you the confidence of knowing you are seeing the world in its fullest clarity.
Book Your Eye Test at Mediclinic Today
Protect your vision and discover the full spectrum of colour clarity. Schedule your comprehensive eye test, including a colour vision assessment, at Mediclinic visit the site or call your nearest clinic to book your appointment.