Protanopia

Protanopia (pronounced pro-ta-no-pee-uh) is a type of color blindness characterized by a deficiency in red light perception.

Etymology

The term "Protanopia" comes from the Greek words "protos" meaning first and "anopia" meaning blindness, referring to the inability to see the first (red) color in the light spectrum.

Definition

Protanopia is a severe type of color vision deficiency caused by the complete absence of red cone cells. People with protanopia are unable to perceive red light and instead see a shade of green or gray in its place. This condition is typically inherited and affects approximately 1% of males.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of protanopia is an inability to distinguish between red and green colors. This can make everyday tasks challenging, such as reading traffic lights or determining whether food is ripe. Other symptoms may include difficulty distinguishing between blue and green, and between yellow and red.

Causes

Protanopia is caused by a mutation in the long-wavelength sensitive cone pigment gene, which is located on the X chromosome. This mutation results in the absence of red cone cells in the retina. As a result, individuals with protanopia are unable to perceive red light.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of protanopia is typically made through a series of color vision tests, such as the Ishihara test or the anomaloscope. These tests can help determine the type and severity of color vision deficiency.

Treatment

There is currently no cure for protanopia. However, special glasses and contact lenses can help individuals with this condition distinguish between different colors. Additionally, there are smartphone apps and other technologies available that can assist with color identification.

Related Terms

• Color blindness
• Deuteranopia
• Tritanopia
• Anomalous trichromacy
• Dichromacy

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Protanopia
• Wikipedia's article - Protanopia

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