Do color blind people really see only black and white?

[Karissa Eyeglasses]

My son has been diagnosed with color blindness. Is it true that people who are color blind can only see black and white?

[Garrett Eyeglasses]

The term "color blindness" confuses many people. The topic of color blindness is fascinating because of its complexity. Many people believe that anyone labeled as "color blind" is only able to see the colors of black and white. However, it is extremely rare to be totally color blind. Although there are exceptions, most patients affected by color blindness are able to see colors other than black and white -- they just perceive them in a different way. Color blind people seem to have trouble differentiating colors and may simply confuse one color with another.


Dr. Garrette Liu