A children’s book created by the Children’s Eye Foundation of AAPOS to help screen for color vision deficiency in children.
Illustrated by Ruby Wang
WHAT IS COLOR VISION DEFICIENCY (CVD)?
Color vision deficiency (CVD), commonly known as color blindness, is the inability to distinguish certain shades of color. This doesn’t mean children with CVD can’t see color, they can.
What this does mean is that they cannot tell the difference between colors like reds and greens, or yellows and blues (and that’s totally OK!) because how we each see the world is special.
HOW CHILDREN WITH COLOR VISION DEFICIENCY SEE
Children with CVD see the world in a unique way. See through their eyes and learn more about the different types of color vision deficiency below.
Red-green color vision deficiency
This is the most common type of CVD and the version our book screens for. Children with red-green CVD have trouble telling the difference between reds, oranges, and greens.
Blue-yellow color vision deficiency
This version is a more rare type of CVD. Children with blue-yellow CVD have trouble telling the difference between blues and greens, and the difference between yellows and violets.
Monochrome color vision deficiency
This version is the most rare form of CVD. Children with monochrome vision see in black, white, and shades of grey.
HOW COMMON IS COLOR VISION DEFICIENCY?
CVD is more common than you may think.
1 in 12 males worldwide
1 in 200 females worldwide
The most common kinds of color blindness are genetic
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW EARLY?
Many children with CVD go undiagnosed for too long, affecting their confidence and social experiences.
When left undiagnosed kids can:
be misdiagnosed with other learning disabilities
often avoid activities and games revolving around color
sometimes be bullied because their peers don’t understand how they see differently
experience isolation from not understanding why they cannot see colors like everyone else
If you suspect a child could have some form of CVD, download our color vision deficiency screening book for children “The Curious Eye”.
This book is best viewed on screen for color accuracy.
FIND A PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGIST
For a professional screening and diagnosis click the link below to find an eye care professional near you.
