Color blindness is an often-inherited vision condition that interferes with the ability to see color normally. The most common color deficiency involves greens and reds, while a less common variant affects blues and yellows.
Just like the colors involved vary, so does the severity of the condition. Some people only have trouble in low light situations, while others have difficulties regardless of lighting.
While there is no cure for color blindness, there are special glasses available to help with color distinction.
These contain uniquely crafted lenses with a special tint to help people with color deficiency distinguish hues more easily. This is often done by filtering out certain wavelengths of light, improving contrast. This enables the wearer to better perceive and discriminate colors.
EnChroma Color Blind Sunglasses
If you’re interested in trying out a pair of colorblind glasses, here are a few great options on the market.
1. EnChroma Color Blind Sunglasses
EnChroma’s color blind sunglasses contain cutting-edge technology to improve outcomes for people with a range of visual color deficiencies.
The company offers both indoor and outdoor lenses. EnChroma’s lenses are designed for those with red-green colorblindness only, so they are unlikely to work for those with blue-yellow problems. Their lenses offer 100% ultraviolet protection, are scratch-resistant, have an anti-reflective coating and can be ordered with or without prescription.
Though the company is based in Berkeley, CA, some of their products are Italian-made, including these sunglasses. Their styles are stylish and can be worn over contact lenses if need be. The high-quality lenses and frames do drive up the cost of these glasses.
EnChroma studies: https://health.ucdavis.edu/health-news/newsroom/study-finds-that-special-filters-in-glasses-can-help-the-color-blind-see-colors-better/2020/07
2. Pilestone Red Green Colorblind Glasses
Pilestone glasses offer several lens options depending on the type of colorblindness. This particular pair comes with lens type B, which is a universal, indoor-outdoor, red-green deficiency lens. Lens types A, B, C and D are for various types of red-green deficiency. Lens type E is for blue-yellow deficiency.
Their lens guide helps to figure out which lens will work best for a particular individual. Lenses can be ordered with or without a prescription. Some are suitable for both indoor and outdoor wear, while others are intended for indoor use only. They are fashionable and one of the most cost-effective options available.
3. Vino Optics Color Blindness Glasses
Vino Optics makes several styles of frames, including one that fits over another pair of glasses. Many of their frames are lightweight and sporty, making them ideal for physical activity. Their lenses provide ultraviolet (UV) protection.
While these glasses are particularly successful at combating the common red-green color deficiency, they don’t correct the rarer blue-yellow color deficiency. Their bright lavender lenses stand out in a crowd and may be impractical for daily wear.
4. Pilestone Clip-On Corrective Lenses
This option provides colorblind correction in the form of a clip-on lens. This is ideal for those who typically wear glasses, allowing them to utilize their existing frame and correction, while simultaneously enhancing color perception.
5. STBJ Color Blind Glasses
The STBJ color blind glasses are designed to reduce the effects of red-green vision deficiencies, while adding sharpness and clarity. While they can be worn indoors or outdoors, they produce the strongest effect in a brighter environment.
In addition to the over-the-counter options discussed above, there is a company called Colormax that offers a patented system called ColorCorrection. This requires an eye exam with color vision testing to create glasses or contact lenses that are custom-made for an individual’s specific color deficiency.
Pros and Cons of Color Blind Glasses
Colorblind glasses can greatly improve the quality of life of those who experience color deficiency. They can provide a greater array of color schemes, as well as a deeper vibrancy. This can be helpful in daily activities, such as matching clothing items when getting dressed, cooking meat or selecting fruit at the grocery store. Proper color discrimination can even open up new career options!
Unfortunately, because color deficiency is so variable and unique, colorblind glasses are not effective for everyone. Several companies, such as EnChroma, do offer a 60-day return policy, in the case that their products are not helpful. It is important to keep in mind that most of the colorblind glasses available work better at correcting red-green deficiencies than blue-yellow.
For some people, colorblind glasses may be prohibitively expensive; some wearers have indicated that the most affordable options on the market scratch easily and need to be replaced frequently.
While colorblindness is a permanent condition that cannot be cured, colorblind glasses can help to improve color perception and discrimination, ultimately enhancing quality of life.
First time reactions to colorblind glasses
We’ll be updating this post with reactions as we come across them, because we think it’s helpful that people actually see how much a difference these glasses can make for people who are colorblind.
Addiitonal Resources:
I have been very pleased with my Enchroma color blind sun glasses. I have had them several years. At this point however, the film seems to be wearing off . My vision is blurry if I am not looking through the lens in a definitive direction. This has just recently started occurring. Is there somewhere I can send the glasses to have the film reapplied? If so, what would the charge be? My name is Albert C. Flynt, and my address is 121 West Ruelle, Mandeville,La. 70471. My phone number is 504-451-3093. I would appreciate your help, as I play golf 5 days a week, and the vision is much better with the Enforma sunglasses than with normal prescription sunglasses. Thank you.
Hi Albert,
Just so you are aware, this is a public post so you might want to delete your personal details so they don’t get to the wrong people!
I am currently in very serious financial diet straits YET this is all my husband has wanted for Christmas or a birthday since we found out about so does anyone know.ehat are the least expensive yet also effective? Any advice helps but please don’t criticize or talk down to me about it otherwise just don’t comment please thank you
Hi, I am also looking for the cheapest option for my 13yr old son as I can’t bear him not seeing colours, I am on benefits & disabled myself so need to find the cheapest option, the cheapest I have found is £100+ which is out of my range.
Please if you get any recommendations please could you let me know.
Wish you all the best & hope you get your husband the glasses to see real colour, I can’t imagine how they see the world with little or no colour.
My husband has done some research to do with CRISPR which is gene therapy to provide a successful cure, have a look & like us approach a charity for funding for the treatment or towards glasses.
Kind regards
Sophie
Wish has them
I’m deuteran and I can assure you we see just as many glorious colours as anyone else, just that we can’t name certain greens and browns with any certainty also certain ugly shades of purple.
The photos you can find online that simulate colour blindness are not realistic because there are colours we see that “normal” people don’t! Just reading people’s comments on these photos tells me they are way off (yes we can tell a red traffic light from a green; they would be impossible to confuse!).
Have you tried any colour tests to know exactly what type of colour impairment your son has? There’s one where you have to put a row of squares in order that is very accurate. Unless you know the type of colour deficiency you shouldn’t be looking for glasses.
Yeah so the traffic light thing… your a bit off . The only way I know if it’s red is it’s the top one and yellows in the middle green on the bottom. The only way I can tell if the single blinking light is a red would be the white stop line on the road
What I would advise, and I’m speaking as a “sufferer” myself, is that your husband read as much expert (not advertising) information as possible on colour blindness so he really gets to understand what it is.
That’s what I did when I was almost seduced by the ads, and now that I understand much more about the subject, I realise I’m not missing as much as I thought. The truth is that if I saw the colours you can name but I can’t, I’d lose the nameless colours that I see but you can’t!
So now I’m happy in my unique world of colours.
Shawnna, did you find something for your husband? Can you let me know if you did see anything that you wanted but could not get.. Would love to help.
Wow that’s really cool of you
Can I use flex spending dollars to purchase color blind glasses?
Yes if you get the prescription ones. Looks like en chroma has a way to order prescription lenses on their website.
Yes you can uses FSA for Pilestone
I need cmvw glasses where can I find them
Our son, 8 years, has just been confirmed as having total colour blindness.
Does anyone have any experience with this? We’re based in the UK.
Thanks so much in advance
I’m with EnChroma. The first time color blind people try EnChroma glasses about 30% experience an instant, powerful effect – like many of the popular videos you may have seen online – or it could take a few minutes to 15 minutes for your eyes and brain to adjust the first few times. Each time the glasses are put on after, the acclimation period will decrease until it’s instant every time.
The more typical first-time experience is slower and more subtle than those who have that immediate “Wow!” experience. Even if you acclimate more slowly to the glasses, however, you’ll get the same benefits as those who acclimate instantly, and you should notice some difference quickly.
The public is relatively ignorant of color blindness and its prevalence, so those popular videos generate more awareness for the condition and effects of color blindness, which is good (and for our glasses too, of course). But, they do lead some consumers to expect an instant, emotional reaction. Unfortunately, the slower, more typical initial acclimation experience doesn’t get as much attention or tend to go viral.
Be aware that EnChroma glasses work for 8 of 10 people who are red-green color blind — not everyone, and results vary. Color blind people will not get 100% color vision from our glasses and they are not a “cure” or “fix” for color blindness. However, most people experience an expanded range of colors and see colors more vibrantly, clearly and distinctly and enjoy improved depth and detail perception.
We try to be transparent to ensure media and consumers understand the above to set realistic expectations. If you try EnChroma glasses you have 60 days to return them for a refund, so there’s no risk. Try them and decide for yourself. Thank you. – EnChroma