Ask A Biologist heading

Are you Color Blind?

Color Vision Test One

color test 1black and white

Look at the pictures above. Do you see a puzzle piece in the picture on the left? If you do, you have normal color vision. The picture on the right will give you an idea of how the color picture would look to someone that is totally color blind. It is the same picture using shades of grey. Without the colors as a reference the image in the picture disappears.

It is very rare to be totally color blind. In fact, the most common form of color blindness is red/green color blindness. Approximately nine percent of the population are affected. Those that suffer from red/green color blindness would see the color image above as either all red or all green. The color they see depends on which cones they are missing.

Green Deficientred deficient

Color Test Two

If you have normal color vision, here is another interesting test. First stare at the color picture below and then move the mouse pointer on top to switch the image to the black and white version. If you look carefully you will notice the image will briefly be in the opposite color! This is because you wore-out some of your cones and are now seeing the image with whatever cones are still operating. 

Are you color blind?

Be part of Ask A Biologist

by volunteering, or simply sending us feedback on the site. Scientists, teachers, writers, illustrators, and translators are all important to the program. If you are interested in helping with the website we have a Volunteers page to get the process started.

help support Ask A Biologist