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COLOUR VISION

Color vision is the biological process that allows humans to perceive and interpret different wavelengths of light as colors, involving photoreceptors in the eye, primarily cones. There are two main theories of color vision: the trichromatic theory, which focuses on three types of cones, and the opponent-process theory, which describes how colors are processed in opposing pairs. Color blindness can occur in various forms, such as dyschromatopsia and achromatopsia, and can be diagnosed through tests like the Ishihara test and comprehensive ophthalmological examinations.

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2 views

COLOUR VISION

Color vision is the biological process that allows humans to perceive and interpret different wavelengths of light as colors, involving photoreceptors in the eye, primarily cones. There are two main theories of color vision: the trichromatic theory, which focuses on three types of cones, and the opponent-process theory, which describes how colors are processed in opposing pairs. Color blindness can occur in various forms, such as dyschromatopsia and achromatopsia, and can be diagnosed through tests like the Ishihara test and comprehensive ophthalmological examinations.

Uploaded by

ringsonbizarah187
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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COLOUR VISION

INTRODUCTION

What is color vision?

• Color vision is the biological and physiological process that enables humans
to perceive and interpret different wavelengths of light, which are interpreted
as colors.

• This complex process involves light, multiple cell types (i.e. cones), neural
pathways and cognitive mechanisms working together to enable us to see
and appreciate the rich colors of our surroundings
What is color?
• Color is a visual perception based on the electromagnetic spectrum,
characterized by the wavelengths of light that our eyes detect and our
brains interpret, resuting in hues like red, blue or yellow...

• The visible spectrum which spans from approximately 380nm (violet) to


780nm(red) is the range of wavelengths that the human eye can detect.

Colors have 3 attributes:


• Hue - basic color without added lightness or darkness
• Intensity - brightness or dullness of a color
• Saturation - the degree of freedom from dilution with white (purity of
color)
STRUCTURE OF THE EYE
LAYERS OF THE RETINA
STRUCTURE OF THE PHOTORECEPTORS OF THE EYE
PHOTORECEPTOR LAYER
• The cones are the photoreceptors that are responsible for color vision,
bright light vision and acuity of vision.

• The rods are responsible for night vision and vision in shades of grey.

There are three types of cones:


• Red-sensitive cone, sensitive to the L-region of the electromagnetic
spectrum (723-647m)
• Green-sensitive cone, sensitive to M-region of the electromagnetic
spectrum (575-492nm)
• Blue-sensitive cone, sensitive to the S-region of the electromagnetic
spectrum (492-450nm)
THEORIES OF COLOR VISION

Two main theories:

• Trichromatic theory (Young-Helmholtz)


Proposes that color vision is mediated by three types of cones sensitive to
different parts of the visible spectrum.

• Opponent-process (Herring’s Theory)


Suggests that color vision is mediated by opponent neural pathways that
compare the signals from different types of cones.
• Trichromatic Theory
This theory suggests that human color vision is based on three types of cone
photoreceptors in the retina, each sensitive to different wavelengths of light.

The brain interprets color based on he combination activity of the 3 cone types.

These cones work together to create all colors.

Limitations:
This theory does not explain why we see after images -this is better explained
by the opponent-process theory
Opponent-process Theory

This theory suggests that color is processed in an antagonistic manner.


The opponent pairs correspond to how the visual system encodes differences in
color.
This theory states the brain can not see both colors in a pair at the same time.

The opponent pairs include:


- Red vs Green
- Blue vs Yellow
- Black vs White

The theory applies at the neural level (Retinal ganglion cells, Lateral Geniculate
Nucleus, and Visual cortex).
TYPES OF COLOR BLINDNESS
• Classified into 2 types:

1. Dyschromatopsia
It is the deficiency in the perception of color.
Only 2 or 3 fundamental colors can be distinguished, due to a lack of the retinal
cone pigments.

Classified into 3 types:


1. Anomalous trichromatic color vision
2. Dichromatic color vision
3. Blue cone monochromatism
• Anomalous trichromatic color vision
- Protanomalous: Defective red color appreciation
- Deuteranomalous: Defective green color appreciation
- Tritanomalous: Defective blue color appreciation

• Dichromatic color vision


- Protanopia: complete red color defect
- Deuteranopia: complete green color defect
- Tritanopia: complete blue color defect

• Blue cone monochromatism


It is a condition of the complete absence of red and green cone function
2. Achromatopsia
A condition characterized by a partial or total absence of color vision.
Color Pathway
• cGMP gated channels in the outer segment of the rods and cones are open
in the dark.

• When light strikes, reactions that are initiated close some of the cGMP gated
cation channels to induce a hyperpolarizing receptor potential.

• Hyperpolarizing Receptor Potential reduces the release of glutamate, which


will generate a signal in the Bipolar cells, causing a depolarizing membrane
potential in Bipolar cells.

• The Action potential is then sent to Ganglionic cells, and then transmitted to
the brain.
• Parvocellular layers are concerned with color, texture and shape, while
magnocellular layers are concerned with movement.

• Axons of the magnocellular in Layer 4C-alpha, and axons of the parvocellular


pathway end in layer 4C-beta.

• Axons from the interlaminar region end in layers 2 and 3, which contain Blobs
(clusters of cells), that are concerned with color vision.

• These blobs then project the information to V8 for further color processing.
CASE QUESTIONS
• Case 1:
A 25 year-old man reports difficulty distinguishing between
red and green colors.

Questions: What are the possible causes of his color vision


deficiency, and what tests would you recommend?
Possible causes:
• Congenital color vision deficiency: Most common cause, usually inherited in
an X-linked recessive pattern.
• Deuteranopia (Green-blind)
• Protanopia (Red-blind)
• Acquired color vision deficiency
- Age-related color vision changes
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular degeneration
- Optic neuritis
- Brain damage
• Recommended tests:
1. Ishihara test:
A widely used, simple test to detect red-green color blindness.

2. Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test:


A more comprehensive test to assess color vision deficiency.

3. Anomaloscope:
Measures the amount of red and green light required to match a yellow light.

4. Visual acuity test:


To rule out other visual impairments.

5. Ophthalmological examination:
To check for underlying eye diseases.
• Case 2
30-year-old woman with sudden changes in color
perception.

Questions: What conditions could affect color vision, and


what diagnostic approach would you take?
1. Optic neuritis:
Inflammation of the optic nerve, which can cause color vision changes.

2. Multiple sclerosis:
A condition that can cause optic neuritis and color vision changes.

3. Migraines:
Can cause transient color vision changes.

4. Medication side effects:


Certain medications, such as digoxin, can affect color vision.

5. Thyroid eye disease:


Can cause color vision changes due to compression of the optic nerve.
Diagnostic Approach:

1. Comprehensive medical history:


To identify potential underlying conditions.

2. Visual acuity test:


To assess visual function.

3. Color vision tests:


Such as the Ishihara test or Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test.

4. Ophthalmological examination:
To check for underlying eye diseases.
5. Neurological examination:
To assess for conditions like multiple sclerosis.

6. Imaging tests:
Such as MRI or CT scans, to rule out underlying conditions.

7. Blood tests:
To check for conditions like thyroid eye disease.

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