What it is
Total color blindness, often called achromatopsia, is a form of severe color vision deficiency. Instead of seeing the full range of colors, a person may see mostly shades of gray, black and white. It is different from the more common red-green or blue-yellow color blindness, where some color is still perceived.
Total color blindness often comes with other vision features, such as sensitivity to bright light, reduced sharpness of vision, and eye movements that are hard to control. These features can vary from one person to the next, and not everyone experiences them in the same way.
The condition is usually present from birth and is typically inherited. Rarely, color vision can also be affected later in life by other eye or health conditions. An eye doctor is the right person to sort out which situation applies, because only a licensed clinician can evaluate and diagnose.
How it’s traditionally been approached
Color vision is traditionally checked by an eye care professional using color plate tests, arrangement tests, or other specialized instruments. For severe color vision loss, doctors may look at the whole visual picture, including light sensitivity and clarity of sight, rather than color alone.
Approaches to daily life have often focused on practical support rather than changing color perception. People have commonly used tinted or filtered lenses to help with glare, adjusted lighting at home and work, and organizational habits such as labeling items and relying on brightness, contrast, and position instead of color.
Schools and workplaces have also approached the topic through accommodations, such as accessible materials and color-independent labels. Color-enhancing filter glasses and contact lenses are sometimes discussed, but they do not cure color blindness and do not restore normal color vision. Whether any of them is useful varies by a person's specific type and severity, and in total color blindness there is little or no color signal for a filter to enhance. Ask a provider about what is appropriate for you.
How the right doctor may help
The right doctor, such as an eye doctor with experience in low vision or inherited eye conditions, may be able to confirm what type of color vision difference you have and how severe it is. A visit generally includes a conversation about your history and family, a vision exam, and color vision testing. Your clinician decides which tests are appropriate.
A provider may also help you think through everyday concerns like glare, reading, school, driving, and work. Some doctors work alongside low vision specialists or vision rehabilitation professionals who can discuss tools and strategies. Nothing is guaranteed, but having a guide can make the options clearer.
Useful questions to bring: What type of color vision deficiency do I have, and how severe is it? Do I have other vision features I should know about? Are tinted lenses or other aids appropriate for me, and what is their regulatory status? Who else, such as a low vision specialist or genetic counselor, might help? How do I confirm color vision requirements for a particular job or license?
The whole-person view
Body, mind, and stress affect one another. Living with a lifelong vision difference can bring everyday frustration, fatigue from bright environments, or worry about school, work, or social situations. Those feelings are understandable and common, and they can be part of the whole picture alongside the physical eye condition.
Some people find that support for the mind and body helps them feel more at ease. Somatic Experiences offers body-based support for how stress is held in the body, and Therapists.plus connects people with talk therapy for the emotional side of adapting to change. Neither replaces eye care from a licensed doctor, and you can explore what feels right for you.
Keep in mind
- Educational only, not medical advice: only a licensed clinician can evaluate your vision and recommend what is appropriate for you.
- Color-enhancing glasses and contact lenses do not cure color blindness or restore normal color vision, and any effect varies by type (protan, deutan, or tritan) and severity.
- Color vision requirements for jobs and licenses vary by employer and authority and change over time, so confirm current rules directly with the employer, licensing body, or agency.
- If you have sudden vision changes or an emergency, call 911. If you are in emotional crisis, call or text 988.
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Frequently asked questions
What is total color blindness?
Total color blindness, also called achromatopsia, is a rare condition in which a person sees little or no color. It often comes with light sensitivity and reduced sharpness of vision. An eye doctor can evaluate and explain what applies to an individual.
Do people with total color blindness only see black and white?
Not necessarily in a simple way. Many people with total color blindness describe seeing shades of gray, but experiences can vary. A licensed eye doctor can explain how a specific person's vision is affected.
Is total color blindness inherited?
It is usually inherited and present from birth. Color vision can rarely be affected later by other eye or health conditions as well. A doctor or genetic counselor can discuss what is known about a particular family.
Can color blind glasses fix total color blindness?
No, color blind glasses do not cure total color blindness or restore normal color vision. Because there is little or no color signal to begin with, effects vary and may be limited. Ask an eye doctor whether any lens or tint is appropriate for you, including questions about regulatory status.
How is total color blindness diagnosed?
It is diagnosed by a licensed eye care professional after an evaluation. This generally involves a history, an eye exam, and color vision testing, and sometimes additional specialized tests. The clinician decides which tests are appropriate.
Can someone with total color blindness work in jobs that require color vision?
It depends on the specific job and the rules of the employer, licensing body, or agency, which vary and change over time. Always confirm current requirements directly with them. An eye doctor can also discuss what to expect.
Educational resource. Colorblind Glasses shares general information and connects people with independent doctors. It is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk with a licensed professional about your health.