Achromatopsia is a condition of the eye
/ visual system that results in the inability to perceive colour (i.e.
it is a form of Colour
Blindness) and is also associated with poor visual acuity.
Achromatopsia may be:
- "Complete" (little or no function
of the cone
cells, hence only able to perceive black, white, and shades of grey)
or
- "Incomplete" (profound impairment
of colour vision but some limited sensation of colour as opposed to
simply light and dark).
Achromatopsia is hereditary and requires both
parents to contribute a gene for the condition to occur. All the offspring
of an achromat may carry one gene for achromatopsia but
to pass it onto their children would need to have children with someone
else carrying the same gene - which is unlikely in most modern mobile
populations but an issue in some remote communities affected by achromatopsia.
Children considered to be at risk of achromatopsia are
generally tested as soon as they are old/developed enough to participate
in appropriate tests. This is because complete (or even just substantial)
colour blindness has implications for education, especially in a standard
classroom environment. The child would therefore benefit from his/her
teachers being aware of his/her achromatopsia and its
effects on that child's visual perception.
More about Ophthalmology: This section includes short definitions
of many diseases, disorders, and conditions of the eyes and visual system.
For definitions of other terms in this category, choose from the list
to the left (but note that this is not a complete/exhaustive list).
Other related pages include the diagram
of the eye, and definitions
of parts of the eye, a description
of the human retina, and definitions
of parts of the retina, and the section of short definitions
of clinical and surgical procedures re. eyes and human visual system.
For further information see also our section of Books
about Ophthalmology. |
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This Section
is about
Diseases
and Disorders of the Eyes and Visual System.
To read about other diseases, disorders, or conditions of the eye and
human visual system, use the links on the left-side of this page.
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