Tritanopia is a type of color vision deficiency that may make it hard for someone to distinguish between blue and green, pink and yellow, and red and purple.

Color vision deficiency, also called color blindness, affects how people see colors. Colors may appear duller than they actually are, or a person may have difficulty distinguishing certain colors.

There is no cure for tritanopia that someone inherits from a parent. However, if the condition occurs due to an underlying health condition, doctors may be able to treat the cause.

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Tritanopia is a type of color vision deficiency that affects blues and yellows. Someone with tritanopia may find it challenging to distinguish between the following colors:

  • blue and green
  • red and purple
  • pink and yellow

People may also find that colors appear less bright than they actually are. In severe cases, people may also experience symptoms such as rapid side-to-side eye movements and light sensitivity.

However, many people with mild color vision deficiency adjust to the differences and do not realize they have it.

Researchers do not know precisely what causes color vision deficiencies, including tritanopia. Many believe the condition may involve problems with the signals that pass from a person’s eyes to their brain.

In most cases, people are born with color vision deficiencies, inheriting them from a parent.

When tritanopia and other color vision deficiencies begin later in life, they may be due to injuries or health conditions. This may include:

Tritanopia risk factors

People may have a higher risk of having color vision deficiencies if they:

  • are male
  • are white
  • have a family history of color vision deficiencies
  • have health conditions, such as:
  • are taking certain medications, such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)

Blue-yellow color vision deficiencies, including tritanopia, are less common than other types.

If someone thinks they have tritanopia or another color vision deficiency, an eye doctor may conduct certain tests. This may include:

  • Color plate test: This is the most common test. A person must look at a circle made up of many small, colorful dots and identify the shape, letter, or number within.
  • Anomaloscope test: A person must look through an eyepiece at two lights and adjust them until they are the same brightness.
  • Hue test: A person must arrange blocks of different hues in rainbow order. This test may be necessary for people who require accurate color vision for their work, such as graphic designers.

There are tests online to test people for color vision deficiency. However, people should visit an eye doctor for an accurate, official diagnosis.

There is no cure for tritanopia or other color vision deficiencies that a person inherits from their parents. However, people often adjust to their symptoms.

When tritanopia occurs due to an underlying health condition, doctors will aim to treat the health condition. Addressing an underlying cause may help restore a person’s ability to see accurate colors.

People may also be able to use certain devices to help with color vision deficiencies that affect their daily lives. This may include tablets or phones that can identify accurate colors.

They may also be able to wear special glasses that help with seeing certain colors. However, these glasses may not be effective for everyone and they may also change how other colors look.

Animal research that a 2020 review mentions suggests gene therapy may have some therapeutic potential for color vision deficiencies. However, researchers have not applied this process to humans. More research is necessary to investigate its potential.

In many cases, tritanopia and other color vision deficiencies are mild enough that a person might not notice any difference. Even when people notice a difference, they will often adapt.

However, some people may find that color vision deficiency causes additional symptoms that need treatment. Color vision deficiency can also worsen as someone ages, which may be due to eye conditions such as cataracts.

Tritanopia due to an underlying health condition may also worsen if someone does not seek treatment.

People with color vision deficiencies may be unable to have certain careers, such as piloting airplanes or driving trains. Severe tritanopia may also prevent people from pursuing careers that rely on accurate color identification, such as graphic design.

However, people with tritanopia can speak with a healthcare professional to see if there are any accommodations that may help them in their daily lives.

People may wish to speak with an eye doctor if tritanopia affects their daily lives. In children, signs of color blindness may include:

  • a lack of interest in coloring
  • regularly using the wrong colors when drawing
  • smelling food before eating it
  • difficulty with tasks or games that involve sorting colors

An eye doctor can conduct tests to check if an adult or child has color vision deficiency or what type they have. They may also be able to recommend lifestyle adjustments to help someone manage their symptoms.

How common is tritanopia?

Tritanopia is a less common type of color vision deficiency. Blue-yellow color vision deficiencies such as this may affect 1 in every 10,000 people.

Is there a cure for tritanopia?

There is no cure for tritanopia that a person inherits from a parent. However, doctors may be able to improve tritanopia that occurs due to an underlying condition by treating that cause.

Is tritanopia the same as blue-yellow colorblindness?

Tritanopia is one type of blue-yellow color vision deficiency. The other type is called tritanomaly and causes difficulty distinguishing between yellow and red and between blue and green.

Tritanopia is a color vision deficiency that may affect blues and yellows. People may have difficulty distinguishing certain colors, such as blue and green, red and purple, or yellow and pink.

Color vision deficiencies, such as tritanopia, may occur due to an underlying health condition. However, most cases occur when a child inherits the condition from a parent.

Many people adjust well to tritanopia. However, doctors may be able to recommend visual aids, such as using tablets or other electronic devices to identify colors.