EnChroma has taken color blind testing to the next level. Unlike the old Ishihara test developed back in 1917, our new patent-pending color blind test uses cone isolation to test the sensitivity of each of your eye’s three color-sensing cones and scores them to show you how close or far you are from having normal color vision as well as what type of color blindness you have.
Cone cells are one of three types of photoreceptor cells in the retina responsible for color vision and high visual acuity. Cone isolation is one of the latest advancements in color vision science and has been crucial for gaining a deeper understanding of color vision, visual acuity, the overall functioning of the human visual system, and the fundamental role these specialized photoreceptor cells play in our ability to perceive and interpret the visual world. Cone isolation refers to the process of independently stimulating and studying each of the color sensing cone cells in the retina of the eye.
There are three types of cone cells in your eye - L, M, and S cones. Each of these three color-sensing cones are sensitive to a specific range of light wavelengths. The L cone is sensitive to Long wavelengths, the M cone is sensitive to Medium wavelengths, and the S cone is sensitive to Short wavelengths. For ease of understanding, these cones are often referred to as Red, Green, and Blue cones respectively. For those with Protan color blindness, their Red cones have a deficiency in their ability to sense colors in that spectrum while those with Deutan color blindness have deficiency in their Green cones.
EnChroma’s new color blindness test is the only online test capable of testing and scoring each type of cone. After taking the test, you’ll not only know if you’re color blind, you’ll know what type of color blindness you have (Deutan, Protan, or Tritan) as well as how close each cone is to normal functioning. Each cone will be given a percentage score which represents at what percentage of normal each cone is functioning (e.g. 60% of normal).
Unlike Ishihara tests which were developed to only screen for color blindness, Enchroma’s new cone isolation color blind test can be used to track improvements in your color vision while wearing our glasses. As an example, during our research testing prior to launch, we saw those with Deutan color blindness moving from 22% of normal up to 87% of normal color vision upon the first trial of our glasses and those with Protan color blindness moving from 13% of normal to 85% of normal. With extended wearing of our glasses, those participants are also likely to see additional improvement over time based on recent independent research results.
If you’d like to take the test, click here.
