Guide to picking the best color blind glasses
You may have heard your friend or family member mentioning being color blind. If someone is color blind, they tend to see colors differently than most people. Color blind individuals have difficulty seeing the difference between colors.
Color blindness is genetic and does not have any cure yet. However, color-blind glasses are available to help their vision.
A pair of color blind glasses comes with a specially tinted lens to help color blind individuals see colors accurately. These glasses do not cure color blindness or provide 100% correction on a color blind's color vision; instead, they partially correct and enhance color vision deficiencies.
Those with color blindness who have tried these glasses are amazed by the vibrancy and broader array of colors they see than what was their 'normal' before using the specially tinted glasses. These glasses may not entirely cure this deficiency, but they indeed have brought comfort and improvement to color blind individuals.
Are you someone who's looking for these types of glasses? Read through to find out how this differs from the ordinary correctional glasses and the technology that providers use. You might also want to check out some tips before buying, as these types of glasses can cause hundreds of dollars from your pocket.
Types of Color Blind Glasses
Like regular correctional eyeglasses with various grades, color blind glasses also have different tints. These tints are based on severity and the type of color blindness an individual has. These glasses generally look like sunglasses and come with varying types of lenses.
The color blind glasses with prescription are designed for individuals with existing vision correction for astigmatism, farsightedness, or nearsightedness and need the glasses to be custom-made for color blindness.
Meanwhile, non-prescription color blind glasses are less expensive than the first kind. These color blind glasses are usually bought by individuals who do not have vision concerns other than color blindness and have a visual acuity of 20/20. Some use non-prescription color blind glasses over their contact lenses. Others use oversized color blind glasses over prescription eyeglasses.
Are Color Blind Glasses Really Helpful?
Color blind glasses may not cure color blindness, but it provides individuals an avenue to see colors differently than usual. The results will also vary depending on the type and severity of the individual's color vision deficiency. Since color blind glasses are typically a recent development, several testing and research need to be done to identify the range of its effectiveness.
Imagine not being able to see the actual colors of green and red? It may seem like a dull vision, not having to see the vibrance of each color. These glasses also provide practical applications, including helping color blind individuals choose and match their clothes' colors, which eventually reduce the risk of odd color combinations.
These glasses also help professionals with color blindness broaden career opportunities and may serve as a confidence booster. Despite being color blind, they too can function similar to those who can easily view normal colors without these specially tinted glasses.
How Much Do Color Blind Glasses Cost?
Besides comfort and other benefits that one can have, it is best to evaluate its cost. Some color blind glasses can be expensive. They range from $200 to $450 or more. The quality of the lenses and the technology used are two main reasons for the price of these glasses.
As discussed previously, you should note that prescription color blind glasses can cost more than non-prescription ones. Despite its cost, there are still those who invest in these glasses as they consider them helpful for their daily routine.
If you are looking for these kinds of glasses, you should also be careful in choosing them as some might offer cheaper costs but are ineffective and will be helpful to your condition.
One of the reasons they are expensive is the patented light filter technique used which is responsible for filtering out overlapping light wavelengths at precise points. These overlapping wavelengths confuse the brain making it difficult to perceive and distinguish between colors.
Guide to Picking the Best Color Blind Glasses
Buying these glasses is an investment; that's why there are a few things to consider before choosing a brand of color blind glasses.
1. Since they are expensive, you will always question their effectiveness. It is always recommended to see an eye doctor first to assess the type and severity of one's color blindness. From here on, you can have options for the kind of color blind glasses you need to purchase and the probability of their effectiveness.
Remember that every color blind individual is different, so consult a specialist before investing in one. There are rare cases when these glasses never work for some color blind people.
2. All the brands providing color blind glasses use the same technology, but the prices vary depending on the quality of the lenses they use and the countries that produce them. Some are designed for indoor use, where artificial lighting can somehow affect how people see colors. If you use these glasses mainly outdoors, brands usually provide greater tinting on the lenses.
3. Colorblind glasses can affect your night vision. It might not be suitable to use color blind glasses at night as they reduce the amount of light reaching the eye because of their tint.
4. As prices can differ depending on the brand, it is safe to gather information first about the offers and costs of each brand before deciding on one. It will be a waste if you choose the most recommended and famous color blind glasses brand, but it will not provide expected results.
5. There are also devices that help enhance the contrast between colors. This includes contrast-increasing filters for photography and hunting glasses. These two are entirely different from color blind glasses. The two mentioned options may be more beneficial to some people than those color blind glasses.
However, remember that hunting glasses and contrast-increasing filters are not designed to enhance color vision in color blind individuals. This is why a little research can also benefit you before choosing color blind glasses.
Recommended articles:
Guide to buying the right fake glasses (non-prescription glasses)
Guide to picking the best glasses for night driving
Night vision glasses: best eyewear for nocturnal activities
Everything about pinhole glasses you should know
Anti-glare glasses explained: pros, cons, and more
Everything about lazy glasses you should know
How to find the right photophobia glasses (light sensitivity glasses)?
