Color Vision Deficiency Simulator

We use color to inform us about the world around us in a number of ways - for instance, the ripeness of fruits and vegetables or the difference between “stop” and “go”. To make an experience accessible, color must not be the only indicator of how someone might interact with an object, website, space, etc. This is when the use of consistency, iconography, sound, or visual state changes become important.

Vision Deficiencies

Cones process light and images as they enter your eye and send signals to your brain that allow you to perceive color.There are three types of cones, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light: long (red), medium (green), and short (blue).

Red-Green Color Blindness

Protanopia
Red-sensing cones are missing, which leads to confusion between reds and greens.
Protanomaly
A milder condition of Protanopia, where red-sensing codes are less sensitive.
Deuteranopia
Green-sensing cones are missing, which leads to confusion between reds and greens.
Deuteranomaly
A milder condition of Deuteranopia, where green-sensing codes are less sensitive.

Blue-Yellow Color Blindness

Tritanopia
Blue-sensing cones are missing, which leads to seeing mostly reds, light blues, pinks and lavender
Tritanomaly
A milder condition of Tritanopia, where blue-sensing codes are less sensitive.

Complete Color Blindness

Monochromacy
Some or all of the color-sensing cones are missing, which results in inability to see colors at all; also called monochromacy or achromatopsia. May impair ability to see clearly or increase sensitivity to light.

Simulator

Please use the options below to compare a normal image with various color deficiencies

Trichromacy (Normal Vision) Vs Protanopia (Red Color Blindness)
A fruit stand with normal color vision A fruit stand with simulated color vision deficiency

Citation

Cleveland Clinic. (2024, May 1). Color Blindness: Types, Causes & Treatment.