Anomalous Trichromacy

Anomalous Trichromacy is the most common type of color blind which is a disorder that is quite widespread. This condition is defined by a partial loss of normal colour perception as opposed to an absence of it. Anomalous Trichromacy is a type of color vision deficiency where a person has reduced color perception of one of the three Cone system which is responsible for color vision as they have abnormal sensitivity of one of the cone cells to red or green color. This condition is not the same as other forms of color blindness in which an individual cannot even distinguish certain colours.

Types of Anomalous Trichromacy

Anomalous trichromacy mainly affects medium wave cones that are associated with green colour perception. This type of colour blindness is more common than Protanomaly which is the alteration of long-wavelength cones involved in red light sensitivity. Other two forms of Anomalous Trichromacy are Deuteranomaly (green – weak) and Protanomaly (red – weak). The most common type is deuteranomaly which affects the perception of green hues, green and red colors may be indistinguishable. Protanomaly however is a form of color vision deficiency that affects the red color perception only and the affected person cannot distinguish between red and green colours but this is quite different from Deuteranomaly.

Impact on Color Vision

Anomalous Trichromacy affects people’s ability to differentiate color that is clearly distinguishable by people with normal vision. This type of color blindness mainly impacts red-green spectrum thus making red-green color blindness the most probable form. However, there are also others for instance Tritanomaly which affects blue and yellow colors and is rare as compared to the previous forms. In the case of red-green color blindness, one can have difficulties in distinguishing between red and green or may see them as very alike. This can cause a problem especially when color is used as a way of differentiating between two objects or products.

Everyday Challenges

Several difficulties are associated with Living with Anomalous Trichromacy, despite which, most people are able to manage in due course. Some of the most common difficulties include:Some of the most common difficulties include:

• Identifying Ripe Fruit: Since the condition influences the hue of red and green, it becomes difficult to know when fruits such as tomatoes, strawberries or apples are ripe.
• Interpreting Traffic Signals: Consider traffic lights for instance; color differentiation is very important in this case. Unfortunately, there are some hints as to the correct arrangement – red is usually at the top or on the left –, but people with red-green color blindness will have trouble telling the colors apart most of the time, especially if the lights’ layout is not familiar to them.
• Selecting Clothing: There are some difficulties in selecting the clothes with the similar or almost similar shades for those who have Anomalous Trichromacy. Because color perception is affected, one is often unable to tell the difference between two colors which are supposed to be complementary, such as red and green or blue and purple.
• Educational and Professional Tasks: Color-coded documents and products are quite frequently used in academic and professional settings, and they can be quite problematic. For instance, as we have graphics, charts or maps which use the color as a critical factor in the representation may not be as comprehensible to a color blind person and this may influence the performance of such a person in various tasks.

Coping Strategies

Despite these challenges, many individuals with Anomalous Trichromacy develop effective coping mechanisms:

• Using Contextual Cues: In the course of time individuals are able to compensate for their colour vision deficiencies by using contextual information. For instance, the colour or the roughness of a fruit may suggest how ripe it is or the position of a traffic light can tell whether one needs to stop or move forward.
• Technological Aids: There are several applications and tools which are helpful for people with color vision deficiencies. These technologies can also help to change the color settings of the devices and enhance their color recognition or even distinguish the colors.
• Educational Adjustments: At the educational institutions, the teachers and instructors can be informed of the condition to ensure that they present information in forms which do not depend on color differences. This can be done through the use of pattern, labels or other texts to present the same information.

Conclusion

Anomalous Trichromacy is a more common type of color blindness, that is defined by a partial loss of color vision, with special reference to the red and green colors. This can be disadvantageous in day to day life, for instance in the ability to recognize a ripe fruit, traffic signs or even clothing to wear. Nonetheless, most of those affected usually cope up well. By using the coping strategies, understanding the context, and with the help of technology, the sufferers are able to overcome the disability and prevent it from affecting their normal lives. It is therefore possible for individuals with Anomalous Trichromacy to lead normal and productive lives with only minor changes here and there in order to accommodate their color vision deficiency.