Dichromacy (Noun)
Meaning
A deficiency of color vision in which the person can match any given hue by mixing only two other wavelengths of light (as opposed to the three wavelengths needed by people with normal color vision).
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Dichromacy is a type of color vision deficiency that affects approximately 8% of all men and 0.5% of all women worldwide.
- People with dichromacy have difficulty distinguishing between certain colors, particularly red and green, and often rely on brightness and saturation cues to navigate their environment.
- The most common forms of dichromacy are protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia, each of which affects a different type of cone cell in the retina.
- Dichromacy can be inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern, meaning that it is more common in men than in women, who are more likely to be carriers of the condition.
- Researchers have developed specialized contact lenses and glasses that can help people with dichromacy to better distinguish between colors and improve their overall visual acuity.