The Scientific terms for blue colour-blindedness is Monochromatism, green colour-blindedness is Deuteranopia and red colour-blindedness is Protanopia.
Basic knowledge
Caucasians would usually develop colour-blindedness problems more than Asians, and I believe most of us can be glad to hear that. That said, Asians too can develop similar problems.
Colour-blindedness is developed when the cones in our retina experiences problems. The retina is the area at the back of our eye which is extremely sensitive to light and allows us to see. In the retina, there are 3 different types of cone cells, which respond to colour. Each cone responds best to each of the three primary colours, so when one of these cones do not function properly, we develop colour-blindedness.
This problem would usually be inherited, rather than acquired, but there are cases of people acquiring such problems. An injury or disease on the retina would affect it and make it lose its ability to respond to colours. A male would be more likely to to have inherited colour-blindedness because it only has one X-chromosome, while females have 2 X-chromosomes. So, if the chromosome in the male has this problem, the male would have the problem, but for the female, if only one chromosome has the problem and the other remains fine, the problem would be override by the chromosome which is fine.
That is depressing.
Anyway, there are tests to diagnose this problem, one of which uses special coloured cards. A more complicated test would be the anomaloscope, which shines a mixture of red and green light. The person would then be instructed to change the mixture by himself to create a yellow light. Then, the doctor would then know how serious the person's colour-blindedness problem is by looking at colour of the mixture, whether it is too red or too green.
Colour-blindedness affects our occupation and our daily life. A person with this problem should consider not taking jobs such as being a pilot, an engineer or a electrician, all of which requires the person to be able to distinguish colours well. For example, a pilot would need to be able to see the coloured buttons in his control panel and the signals given by the airport. An electrician would not be able to tell which wires are which, if they are coloured and an engineer would face the same problem. This also affects normal drivers, who are required to distinguish the colours of traffic lights, failing to do so might cause accidents.
Recommendation for a website which would help a person to tell whether he has a colour-blindedness problem
A website can be created and primary colours can be put on the website. The person would be told to see the colours and remember the colour in his mind, and then, the name of the colours would be revealed after he is done. He can then check with the answers himself and if it does not correspond, he can either try again, or he can be sure that he has colour-blindedness problems.
Sources --> http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/condition_info_details.asp?disease_id=36
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