U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Dyschromatopsia

MedGen UID:
163559
Concept ID:
C0858618
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Color blindness; Colour blindness
 
HPO: HP:0007641

Definition

A form of colorblindness in which only two of the three fundamental colors can be distinguished due to a lack of one of the retinal cone pigments. [from HPO]

Conditions with this feature

Blue color blindness
MedGen UID:
57827
Concept ID:
C0155017
Disease or Syndrome
Tritanopia is an autosomal dominant disorder of human vision characterized by a selective deficiency of blue spectral sensitivity (Weitz et al., 1992).
North Carolina macular dystrophy
MedGen UID:
147590
Concept ID:
C0730294
Disease or Syndrome
North Carolina macular dystrophy (NCMD, MCDR1) is a congenital autosomal dominant trait that appears to be completely penetrant. It is generally nonprogressive. The ophthalmoscopic findings are highly variable and are always much more dramatic than one would predict from the relatively good visual acuity level, which ranges from 20/20 to 20/400 (median, 20/60). Patients may have only a few drusen in the central macular region (grade I), confluent drusen confined to the central macular region (grade II), or a severe macular coloboma/staphyloma (grade III) involving 3 to 4 disc areas of the central macular region. Choroidal neovascular membranes develop in some patients. Color vision is normal. Electrophysiologic studies are also normal (summary by Small, 1998). Genetic Heterogeneity of Retinal Macular Dystrophy MCDR2 (608051) is caused by mutation in the PROM1 gene (604365) on chromosome 4p15. MCDR3 (608850) is caused by a duplication on chromosome 5p15. MCDR4 (619977) is caused by mutation in the CLEC3B gene (187520) on chromosome 3p21. MCDR5 (see 613660) is caused by mutation in the CDHR1 gene (609502) on chromosome 10q23. See MAPPING for possible additional loci for MCDR.
Fundus dystrophy, pseudoinflammatory, recessive form
MedGen UID:
337888
Concept ID:
C1849694
Disease or Syndrome
Achromatopsia 3
MedGen UID:
340413
Concept ID:
C1849792
Disease or Syndrome
Achromatopsia is characterized by reduced visual acuity, pendular nystagmus, increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), a small central scotoma, eccentric fixation, and reduced or complete loss of color discrimination. All individuals with achromatopsia (achromats) have impaired color discrimination along all three axes of color vision corresponding to the three cone classes: the protan or long-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (red), the deutan or middle-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (green), and the tritan or short-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (blue). Most individuals have complete achromatopsia, with total lack of function of all three types of cones. Rarely, individuals have incomplete achromatopsia, in which one or more cone types may be partially functioning. The manifestations are similar to those of individuals with complete achromatopsia, but generally less severe. Hyperopia is common in achromatopsia. Nystagmus develops during the first few weeks after birth followed by increased sensitivity to bright light. Best visual acuity varies with severity of the disease; it is 20/200 or less in complete achromatopsia and may be as high as 20/80 in incomplete achromatopsia. Visual acuity is usually stable over time; both nystagmus and sensitivity to bright light may improve slightly. Although the fundus is usually normal, macular changes (which may show early signs of progression) and vessel narrowing may be present in some affected individuals. Defects in the macula are visible on optical coherence tomography.
Achromatopsia 6
MedGen UID:
355864
Concept ID:
C1864900
Disease or Syndrome
Achromatopsia is characterized by reduced visual acuity, pendular nystagmus, increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), a small central scotoma, eccentric fixation, and reduced or complete loss of color discrimination. All individuals with achromatopsia (achromats) have impaired color discrimination along all three axes of color vision corresponding to the three cone classes: the protan or long-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (red), the deutan or middle-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (green), and the tritan or short-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (blue). Most individuals have complete achromatopsia, with total lack of function of all three types of cones. Rarely, individuals have incomplete achromatopsia, in which one or more cone types may be partially functioning. The manifestations are similar to those of individuals with complete achromatopsia, but generally less severe. Hyperopia is common in achromatopsia. Nystagmus develops during the first few weeks after birth followed by increased sensitivity to bright light. Best visual acuity varies with severity of the disease; it is 20/200 or less in complete achromatopsia and may be as high as 20/80 in incomplete achromatopsia. Visual acuity is usually stable over time; both nystagmus and sensitivity to bright light may improve slightly. Although the fundus is usually normal, macular changes (which may show early signs of progression) and vessel narrowing may be present in some affected individuals. Defects in the macula are visible on optical coherence tomography.
Cone-rod dystrophy 6
MedGen UID:
400963
Concept ID:
C1866293
Disease or Syndrome
Cone-rod dystrophy-6 (CORD6) is characterized by progressive degeneration of cones and rods, causing a decrease in central visual acuity and color vision defects followed by loss of peripheral vision and nyctalopia (summary by Ugur Iseri et al., 2010). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of cone-rod dystrophy, see 120970.
Cone dystrophy 4
MedGen UID:
416518
Concept ID:
C2751308
Disease or Syndrome
Achromatopsia is characterized by reduced visual acuity, pendular nystagmus, increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), a small central scotoma, eccentric fixation, and reduced or complete loss of color discrimination. All individuals with achromatopsia (achromats) have impaired color discrimination along all three axes of color vision corresponding to the three cone classes: the protan or long-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (red), the deutan or middle-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (green), and the tritan or short-wavelength-sensitive cone axis (blue). Most individuals have complete achromatopsia, with total lack of function of all three types of cones. Rarely, individuals have incomplete achromatopsia, in which one or more cone types may be partially functioning. The manifestations are similar to those of individuals with complete achromatopsia, but generally less severe. Hyperopia is common in achromatopsia. Nystagmus develops during the first few weeks after birth followed by increased sensitivity to bright light. Best visual acuity varies with severity of the disease; it is 20/200 or less in complete achromatopsia and may be as high as 20/80 in incomplete achromatopsia. Visual acuity is usually stable over time; both nystagmus and sensitivity to bright light may improve slightly. Although the fundus is usually normal, macular changes (which may show early signs of progression) and vessel narrowing may be present in some affected individuals. Defects in the macula are visible on optical coherence tomography.
Autosomal recessive optic atrophy, OPA7 type
MedGen UID:
414112
Concept ID:
C2751812
Disease or Syndrome
A rare, syndromic, hereditary optic neuropathy disorder characterized by early-onset, severe, progressive visual impairment, optic disc pallor and central scotoma, variably associated with dyschromatopsia, auditory neuropathy (e.g. mild progressive sensorineural hearing loss), sensorimotor axonal neuropathy and, occasionally, moderate hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Optic atrophy with or without deafness, ophthalmoplegia, myopathy, ataxia, and neuropathy
MedGen UID:
478179
Concept ID:
C3276549
Disease or Syndrome
Optic atrophy plus syndrome (DOA+ syndrome) is a neurologic disorder characterized most commonly by an insidious onset of visual loss and sensorineural hearing loss in childhood with variable presentation of other clinical manifestations including progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO), muscle cramps, hyperreflexia, and ataxia. There appears to be a wide range of intermediate phenotypes (Yu-Wai-Man et al., 2010).
Autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy
MedGen UID:
854768
Concept ID:
C3888099
Disease or Syndrome
Bestrophinopathies, the spectrum of ophthalmic disorders caused by pathogenic variants in BEST1, are typically characterized by retinal degeneration. The four recognized phenotypes are the three autosomal dominant disorders: Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD), BEST1 adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy (AVMD), and autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy (ADVIRC); and autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB). Onset is usually in the first decade (except AVMD in which onset is age 30 to 50 years). Slow visual deterioration is the usual course. Choroidal neovascularization can occur in rare cases. ADVIRC is also associated with panophthalmic involvement including nanophthalmos, microcornea, hyperopia, and narrow anterior chamber angle with angle closure glaucoma.
Progressive external ophthalmoplegia with mitochondrial DNA deletions, autosomal recessive 1
MedGen UID:
897191
Concept ID:
C4225153
Disease or Syndrome
POLG-related disorders comprise a continuum of overlapping phenotypes that were clinically defined before the molecular basis was known. POLG-related disorders can therefore be considered an overlapping spectrum of disease presenting from early childhood to late adulthood. The age of onset broadly correlates with the clinical phenotype. Early-onset disease (prior to age 12 years): Liver involvement, feeding difficulties, seizures, hypotonia, and muscle weakness are the most common clinical features. This group has the worst prognosis. Juvenile/adult-onset form (age 12-40 years: Disease is typically characterized by peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, seizures, stroke-like episodes, and, in individuals with longer survival, progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO). This group generally has a better prognosis than the early-onset group. Late-onset disease (after age 40 years): Characterized by ptosis and PEO, with additional features such as peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, and muscle weakness. This group overall has the best prognosis.
Retinal macular dystrophy type 2
MedGen UID:
1666864
Concept ID:
C4749334
Disease or Syndrome
Retinal macular dystrophy type 2 is a rare, genetic macular dystrophy disorder characterised by slowly progressive bull eye maculopathy associated, in most cases, with mild decrease in visual acuity and central scotomata. Usually, only the central retina is involved, however some cases of more widespread rod and cone anomalies have been reported. Rare additional features include empty sella turcica, impaired olfaction, renal infections, haematuria and recurrent miscarriages.
Cone-rod dystrophy and hearing loss 1
MedGen UID:
1682048
Concept ID:
C5193018
Disease or Syndrome
Cone-rod dystrophy and hearing loss-1 (CRDHL1) is characterized by relatively late onset of both ocular and hearing impairment. The funduscopic findings are characteristic, showing ring-shaped atrophy along the major vascular arcades that manifests on fundus autofluorescence as a hypoautofluorescent band along the vascular arcades surrounded by hyperautofluorescent borders (Namburi et al., 2016). Genetic Heterogeneity of Cone-Rod Dystrophy and Hearing Loss CRDHL2 (618358) is caused by mutation in the CEP250 gene (609689) on chromosome 20q11.
Optic atrophy 12
MedGen UID:
1720703
Concept ID:
C5436534
Disease or Syndrome
AFG3L2-related neurologic disorders comprise four phenotypes. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 28 (SCA28), the most common phenotype, is characterized by young adult onset (26.5 ± 17.2 years); the onset range is from birth to 74 years of a cerebellar syndrome manifesting initially as very slowly progressive gait and limb ataxia resulting in incoordination and balance problems. Less frequently, ptosis/ophthalmoplegia, dysarthria, or upper-limb incoordination may occur as the initial finding. Pyramidal syndrome (increased and brisk reflexes, extensor plantar reflex, and spasticity) is commonly observed in individuals with longer disease duration. Although cognitive impairment, spasticity, and ophthalmologic signs can occur with disease progression, most individuals remain ambulatory and fully independent throughout their lives. Spastic ataxia type 5 (SPAX5), reported in 14 individuals to date, ranges from severe neurodegeneration with microcephaly, poor weight gain, developmental delay, developmental regression around age nine months, and death as early as age 2.5 years. Milder presentations range from onset in infancy to an early-onset complex cerebellar ataxia with myoclonic epilepsy. AFG3L2-related autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia (AFG3L2-SCAR), reported in two individuals to date, is a late-onset ataxia with a clinical phenotype closely resembling that of SCA28. Optic atrophy type 12 (OPA12) manifests as decreased visual acuity (variable but frequently ranging from 0.2/10 to 2/10), photophobia, and impaired color vision. Ophthalmologic findings are optic nerve pallor and highly reduced retinal nerve fiber layer on optical coherence tomography. Although affected individuals do not present with ataxia, some may exhibit sensorineural hearing loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, dystonia, and spasticity.
Benign concentric annular macular dystrophy
MedGen UID:
1794135
Concept ID:
C5561925
Disease or Syndrome
Retinitis pigmentosa-91 (R91) is characterized by night blindness and constriction of visual fields, with bone-spicule pigmentation, attenuation of retinal vessels, and optic disc pallor on funduscopy. Patients may also experience early macular involvement, with photophobia and reduced visual acuity, and some show a bull's eye pattern of macular atrophy (Olivier et al., 2021).
Optic atrophy 15
MedGen UID:
1849731
Concept ID:
C5882716
Disease or Syndrome
Optic atrophy-15 (OPA15) is a degenerative disorder of the retinal ganglion cells that leads to optic nerve atrophy and visual loss (summary by Gerber et al., 2021). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of optic atrophy, see OPA1 (165500).
Optic atrophy 16
MedGen UID:
1851641
Concept ID:
C5882723
Disease or Syndrome
Optic atrophy-16 (OPA16) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON)-like isolated optic neuropathy and mild sensorineural hearing impairment (Fiorini et al., 2023). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of optic atrophy, see OPA1 (165500).

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Rosenblatt TR, Chen DA, Chiou CA, Yoon MK, Lee NG, Wolkow N, Freitag SK
Orbit 2026 Apr;45(2):261-268. Epub 2025 Nov 5 doi: 10.1080/01676830.2025.2578176. PMID: 41191739
Jendretzky KF, Bajor A, Lezius LM, Hümmert MW, Konen FF, Grosse GM, Schwenkenbecher P, Sühs KW, Trebst C, Framme C, Wattjes MP, Meuth SG, Gingele S, Skripuletz T
Sci Rep 2024 Mar 27;14(1):7293. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-57199-4. PMID: 38538701Free PMC Article
Castro-Sánchez S, Álvarez-Satta M, Cortón M, Guillén E, Ayuso C, Valverde D
J Med Genet 2015 Aug;52(8):503-13. Epub 2015 Jun 16 doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-103099. PMID: 26082521

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Cheng Y, Liu X, Lu J, Ren J, Fei P, Chen M, Tang C, Zhang J, Zhang M, Yuan M, Sun L, Zhang L, Hou A, Jin Y, Lai Y, Wang Q, Yan W, Ke S, Li X, Ding X
JAMA Ophthalmol 2025 Mar 1;143(3):222-229. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.6372. PMID: 39946120Free PMC Article
Klyscz P, Asseyer S, Alonso R, Bereuter C, Bialer O, Bick A, Carta S, Chen JJ, Cohen L, Cohen-Tayar Y, Carnero Contentti E, Dale RC, Flanagan EP, Gernert JA, Haas J, Havla J, Heesen C, Hellmann M, Levin N, Lopez P, Lotan I, Luis MB, Mariotto S, Mayer C, Vergara AJM, Ocampo C, Ochoa S, Oertel FC, Olszewska M, Uribe JLP, Sastre-Garriga J, Scocco D, Ramanathan S, Rattanathamsakul N, Shi FD, Shifa J, Simantov I, Siritho S, Tiosano A, Tisavipat N, Torres I, Dembinsky AV, Vidal-Jordana A, Wilf-Yarkoni A, Wu T, Zamir S, Zarco LA, Zimmermann HG, Petzold A, Paul F, Stiebel-Kalish H
Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2024 Sep;11(9):2473-2484. Epub 2024 Aug 4 doi: 10.1002/acn3.52166. PMID: 39099240Free PMC Article
Sharma A, Singh A, Bansal Y, Mohan A, Gnanaraj R, Khulbe P, Pangtey K, Tripathi K, Khan MA, Sharma A, Jain M
Indian J Ophthalmol 2024 May 1;72(5):664-671. Epub 2023 Dec 26 doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_1437_23. PMID: 38153970Free PMC Article
Sohrabi Y, Rahimian F, Soleimani E, Hassanipour S
Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2024 Mar;30(1):9-19. Epub 2023 Jan 27 doi: 10.1080/10803548.2022.2157543. PMID: 36502281
Barton JJ, Stubbs JL, Paquette S, Duchaine B, Schlaug G, Corrow SL
Neuropsychologia 2023 May 3;183:108540. Epub 2023 Mar 11 doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108540. PMID: 36913989

Diagnosis

Cheng Y, Liu X, Lu J, Ren J, Fei P, Chen M, Tang C, Zhang J, Zhang M, Yuan M, Sun L, Zhang L, Hou A, Jin Y, Lai Y, Wang Q, Yan W, Ke S, Li X, Ding X
JAMA Ophthalmol 2025 Mar 1;143(3):222-229. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.6372. PMID: 39946120Free PMC Article
Oliveira C
Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2019 Oct;25(5):1265-1288. doi: 10.1212/CON.0000000000000769. PMID: 31584537
Abdelhakim A, Rasool N
Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2018 Nov;29(6):514-519. doi: 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000527. PMID: 30148725
Chan JW
Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2002 Sep;10(3):161-86. doi: 10.1076/ocii.10.3.161.15603. PMID: 12789593
Green GJ, Lessell S
Arch Ophthalmol 1977 Jan;95(1):121-8. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1977.04450010121012. PMID: 300016

Therapy

Rosenblatt TR, Chen DA, Chiou CA, Yoon MK, Lee NG, Wolkow N, Freitag SK
Orbit 2026 Apr;45(2):261-268. Epub 2025 Nov 5 doi: 10.1080/01676830.2025.2578176. PMID: 41191739
Sohrabi Y, Rahimian F, Soleimani E, Hassanipour S
Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2024 Mar;30(1):9-19. Epub 2023 Jan 27 doi: 10.1080/10803548.2022.2157543. PMID: 36502281
Muttray A, Wolters V, Rose DM
Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2019 Jul;92(5):699-707. Epub 2019 Jan 25 doi: 10.1007/s00420-019-01405-8. PMID: 30683999
Choi AR, Braun JM, Papandonatos GD, Greenberg PB
Am J Ind Med 2017 Nov;60(11):930-946. Epub 2017 Aug 24 doi: 10.1002/ajim.22766. PMID: 28836685Free PMC Article
Chan JW
Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2002 Sep;10(3):161-86. doi: 10.1076/ocii.10.3.161.15603. PMID: 12789593

Prognosis

Rosenblatt TR, Chen DA, Chiou CA, Yoon MK, Lee NG, Wolkow N, Freitag SK
Orbit 2026 Apr;45(2):261-268. Epub 2025 Nov 5 doi: 10.1080/01676830.2025.2578176. PMID: 41191739
Cheng Y, Liu X, Lu J, Ren J, Fei P, Chen M, Tang C, Zhang J, Zhang M, Yuan M, Sun L, Zhang L, Hou A, Jin Y, Lai Y, Wang Q, Yan W, Ke S, Li X, Ding X
JAMA Ophthalmol 2025 Mar 1;143(3):222-229. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.6372. PMID: 39946120Free PMC Article
Sohrabi Y, Rahimian F, Soleimani E, Hassanipour S
Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2024 Mar;30(1):9-19. Epub 2023 Jan 27 doi: 10.1080/10803548.2022.2157543. PMID: 36502281
Abdelhakim A, Rasool N
Curr Opin Ophthalmol 2018 Nov;29(6):514-519. doi: 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000527. PMID: 30148725
Chan JW
Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2002 Sep;10(3):161-86. doi: 10.1076/ocii.10.3.161.15603. PMID: 12789593

Clinical prediction guides

Cheng Y, Liu X, Lu J, Ren J, Fei P, Chen M, Tang C, Zhang J, Zhang M, Yuan M, Sun L, Zhang L, Hou A, Jin Y, Lai Y, Wang Q, Yan W, Ke S, Li X, Ding X
JAMA Ophthalmol 2025 Mar 1;143(3):222-229. doi: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.6372. PMID: 39946120Free PMC Article
Klyscz P, Asseyer S, Alonso R, Bereuter C, Bialer O, Bick A, Carta S, Chen JJ, Cohen L, Cohen-Tayar Y, Carnero Contentti E, Dale RC, Flanagan EP, Gernert JA, Haas J, Havla J, Heesen C, Hellmann M, Levin N, Lopez P, Lotan I, Luis MB, Mariotto S, Mayer C, Vergara AJM, Ocampo C, Ochoa S, Oertel FC, Olszewska M, Uribe JLP, Sastre-Garriga J, Scocco D, Ramanathan S, Rattanathamsakul N, Shi FD, Shifa J, Simantov I, Siritho S, Tiosano A, Tisavipat N, Torres I, Dembinsky AV, Vidal-Jordana A, Wilf-Yarkoni A, Wu T, Zamir S, Zarco LA, Zimmermann HG, Petzold A, Paul F, Stiebel-Kalish H
Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2024 Sep;11(9):2473-2484. Epub 2024 Aug 4 doi: 10.1002/acn3.52166. PMID: 39099240Free PMC Article
Sharma A, Singh A, Bansal Y, Mohan A, Gnanaraj R, Khulbe P, Pangtey K, Tripathi K, Khan MA, Sharma A, Jain M
Indian J Ophthalmol 2024 May 1;72(5):664-671. Epub 2023 Dec 26 doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_1437_23. PMID: 38153970Free PMC Article
Sohrabi Y, Rahimian F, Soleimani E, Hassanipour S
Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2024 Mar;30(1):9-19. Epub 2023 Jan 27 doi: 10.1080/10803548.2022.2157543. PMID: 36502281
Gupta PR, Gospe SM , III
Ophthalmic Genet 2023 Oct;44(5):469-474. Epub 2022 Oct 19 doi: 10.1080/13816810.2022.2135112. PMID: 36262091

Recent systematic reviews

Lee J, Jo Y, Jeong J, Kim DJ, Lee H, Kim TH, Lee JH, Rahmati M, Smith L, Pizzol D, Son Y, Ahn SH, Yon DK, Choi DW, Kang J
Environ Res 2026 Jun 1;298:124196. Epub 2026 Mar 10 doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.124196. PMID: 41819200
Cuzzubbo S, Vogrig A, Louis E, Philippakis E, Ursu R, Ezine E, Lebbé C, Aprile G, Couturier A, Carpentier AF
Eur J Cancer 2026 Mar 26;237:116594. Epub 2026 Feb 17 doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2026.116594. PMID: 41759413
Sohrabi Y, Rahimian F, Soleimani E, Hassanipour S
Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2024 Mar;30(1):9-19. Epub 2023 Jan 27 doi: 10.1080/10803548.2022.2157543. PMID: 36502281
Jackson TL, Haller J, Blot KH, Duchateau L, Lescrauwaet B
Surv Ophthalmol 2022 May-Jun;67(3):697-711. Epub 2021 Sep 2 doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2021.08.003. PMID: 34480895
Choi AR, Braun JM, Papandonatos GD, Greenberg PB
Am J Ind Med 2017 Nov;60(11):930-946. Epub 2017 Aug 24 doi: 10.1002/ajim.22766. PMID: 28836685Free PMC Article

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Consumer resources

    Recent activity

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...