How does a Total Colorblind Child’s Future look like?

Total color blindness—also known as complete color blindness or monochromacy and with the scientific name achromatopsia—is very uncommon. Less than one out of 30’000 people is affected by this special form of color vision deficiency.

What if your son or daughter suffers from complete color blindness, how might a possible future look like to your child?

I just came to know my sister’s son is total colorblind. He is 12 years old.

  1. Since he is total colorblind, does it mean he sees all color in monochrome gray shades or can he see some of the colors?
  2. What kind of profession should he pursue since he is total colorblind?
  3. Is it fine for him to get work as a software engineer or a doctor?
  4. Is it fine for him to drive when he grows up?

Before answering the above four questions I would like to say a few words about complete color blindness. A young baby suffering from monochromacy will start to twinkle in bright light. Why? Because all cones which are needed for color vision and day vision are absent and therefor vision is solely based on rods. This receptors can’t see colors and are responsible for night vision. This means they are very sensitive to bright light which additionally leads to very poor visual acuity.

This means, if your child really suffers from complete color blindness he or she…

  • …needs strong sunglasses in normal daylight.
  • …has poor visual acuity.
  • …also suffers from nystagmus (nervous eyes).

1. Does he see all color in monochrome gray shades or can he see some of the colors? If you are suffering from achromatopsia you can’t perceive any colors beside black, white and fine tuned shades of gray. There is no feeling or sensation of color at all.

2. What kind of profession should he pursue since he is total colorblind? Unfortunately complete color blindness can be a huge handicap in many professions. But there are many people who showed that also a huge variety of jobs can be done with this deficiency, like Dr. Nordby an internationally recognized vision scientist, lecturer, and writer. You can find more personal job stories in the book Living with Achromatopsia.

3. Is it fine for him to get work as a software engineer or a doctor? To work as a software engineer should cause no insurmountable hurdles. Of course you might need an extra large display and adjust some color settings. But programming is a logical and not a color related job. To work as a doctor could be tougher. A doctor needs good eyesight during his work and also needs to make decisions based on colors. There might be some work which can be done as a complete colorblind person, but it won’t be easy at all.

4. Is it fine for him to drive when he grows up? Unfortunately I have to tell you that you can’t drive when you are suffering from achromatopsia. The handicaps I described above are just to big to be able to safely drive a car.

Please make sure that you also visit the very comprehensive site from the Achromatopsia network. They are also offering two books as pdf download with a lot of specific information on this very special type of complete color blindness: Understanding and Coping with Achromatopsia and Living with Achromatopsia.

2 responses on “How does a Total Colorblind Child’s Future look like?

  1. Kimberly Smith

    I would just like to comment back to the poor person that you sent flase information to. My husband is compleatly color blind he can only see black, white, and shades of grey. My husband drives, He served in the milirary for 14 years as a truck driver(just getting back from iraq). We have 2 children who he is always playing outside with(he does ware sunglasses but they are not the darkest i have ever seen). He is currently in culinary school where he drives him self to and from everyweek. Is it a handicap maybe to you and me because we can see the lovelyness of the world but not to him he see the beauty of the world and injoys all of the same things that you and I do everyday. Just a little bit differently. So back on the driving I wouldn’t worry.

  2. Bobby N

    I would not worry to much. I am totally color blind from birth. I was 35 when I discovered that all apples are not red. I am very normal butI do see things physically different. You can not camouflage anything from me. I see things that most people can not. I do not get confused by color since I can not see it. I can see at night almost as well as most people do in the day and yes teh sun is vry bright. I am a great tracker and hunter. Driving on rainy nights suck. I have my wife do the driving. The glare from the lights feel like my eyes are being rubbed with salt.

    I serve in the Army Special Forces for 15 years,parachuted, freefall (sky dived)I did have to adapt and I learned how to very quickly. Today I am an architect and colors do not bother me at all. Most architect from what understand are lossy with color anyway though their egos will not allow them to admit it. I use interior designers, they are great. As far as design go, I think in images not words. Design was a good choice since it comes naturally.

    I agree with Kim and admire her passion. Because of her husband her and her family have a very different out look on the world. A good friend of mine from the Army lost both of his legs due to parachuting accident and he flies helicopters and still parachutes. We are what we make ourselves not what the world makes of us.

    My advice to some young person who has no color vision is good for you. You are unique, gifted and see the world very differently. Determination is what drives success not talent. Granted there are things that you should not get into but there is a world of opportunities for you.