Monochromacy
Monochromacy (pronunciation: /mɒnəʊˈkrəʊməsi/), also known as Achromatopsia or total color blindness, is a rare and severe form of color vision deficiency that prevents a person from distinguishing any colors.
Etymology
The term "Monochromacy" is derived from the Greek words "monos" (meaning single) and "chroma" (meaning color).
Definition
Monochromacy is a condition in which the cone cells in the retina of the eye, which normally perceive color, either do not function at all or function very poorly. This results in the affected individual seeing everything in shades of grey, similar to viewing a black and white television or film.
Types
There are two types of Monochromacy:
- Rod monochromacy (also known as achromatopsia): This is the most common type of monochromacy, where the person has no cone cell activity at all.
- Cone monochromacy: This is a rarer form of the condition, where the person has some functioning cone cells, but only one type of them, instead of the usual three types that most people have.
Symptoms
The main symptom of monochromacy is the inability to distinguish colors. Other symptoms can include nystagmus (involuntary eye movement), photophobia (light sensitivity), poor visual acuity, and strabismus (crossed or misaligned eyes).
Causes
Monochromacy is usually caused by a genetic mutation that affects the development of the cone cells in the retina. It is typically inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning both parents must carry the gene for the condition to be passed on.
Treatment
There is currently no cure for monochromacy. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life. This can include the use of sunglasses to protect the eyes from bright light, and low vision aids to help with tasks that require good color vision.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Monochromacy
- Wikipedia's article - Monochromacy
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