Protanomaly - everything in the red range
Protanomaly is the technical term for a red color weakness. It is a visual impairment where the colors of the red spectrum are perceived less intensely. A protanomaly can vary in severity and is understood as a form of red-green color weakness.
This is what you absolutely need to know about protanomaly
- The cause of protanomaly is a genetic defect in the retina.
- Significantly more men than women are affected.
- Not to be confused with red blindness (protanopia), where the color red cannot be recognized at all.
- Protanomaly is not treatable.
What exactly is a protanomaly?
About 1% of all men suffer from protanomaly, but only 0.01% of women. The reason for this unequal distribution lies in the fact that the gene for seeing the color red is located on the X chromosome. In protanomaly, this gene is degenerated, resulting in a color vision deficiency in the red spectral range. Since women are known to have two X chromosomes, they can compensate for a malformation more easily than men.
The defect is genetically caused and is the reason why an important substance, which is essential for color perception, does not develop normally. If this substance is completely missing, it is called protanopia, or red blindness. In this case, the color red is not only perceived as weaker but cannot be recognized at all.
This is how red color weakness arises
A protanomaly arises through inheritance. In rare cases, it is caused by a neurological condition. In the healthy eye, there are two types of photoreceptors on the retina that capture the light of our environment to transmit it to the brain. There, a visual image is created from them. On the one hand, we have the rods, which enable vision in twilight, and the cones, which are responsible for the ability to see color.
There are three types of cones: red, blue, and green. Each processes light of a specific wavelength and thus color. If the red cone is not fully functional, a protanomaly is present. For those affected, the color red does not clearly stand out from its contrast color. It is less distinguishable from the surroundings than for people with normal vision, for whom red stands out clearly as a signal color.
It's naturally a bit more complicated
Vision, and especially color vision, is a highly complex process. Prerequisites are light, functioning sensory cells, and of course a brain. Light reflects at different wavelengths and hits the sensory cells of the retina in our eye. The cone cells contain the pigment rhodopsin, which consists of the protein opsin and the smaller molecule 11-cis-retinal. The opsin is structured differently and light-sensitive in the various cones.
When light hits the opsin of the cones, 11-cis-retinal activates a series of processes and ultimately transmits the light impulse to the brain. In the case of red vision deficiency, the sensitivity maximum in the cones responsible for the color red shifts toward green. The red cones now react more strongly to green light. The opposite is true for green vision deficiency, deuteranopia. In this case, the green cones do not function properly and react more sensitively to the color red.
Red vision deficiency – Am I affected?
Maybe you have a red vision deficiency and don't even know it. Depending on its severity, those affected may not even notice that they suffer from protanomaly. Often, a certain color vision deficiency only becomes apparent in conversations with friends or family. Perhaps there is disagreement about the color of a particular sweater, leading to pondering. A test at the optician or an eye doctor can provide clarity in this case.
The colorful Ishihara color test plates can quickly confirm an initial suspicion, for example. The images show many round color spots of varying sizes and nuances. They are based on the ability to optimally distinguish red and green. People with normal vision can quickly recognize numbers and letters hidden on the plates. To see them, all cones must function perfectly. If the figures are not immediately perceived, this can be an indication of a disturbance in red or green perception.
What helps with protanomaly?
Protanomaly is a genetic defect that is currently not treatable. However, it often does not pose a major limitation for those affected. For them, the world is as they have known it since childhood. However, some professions cannot or must not be performed with a pronounced red vision deficiency. For example, for police officers, pilots, or bus drivers, correctly distinguishing the signal colors red and green is vital for survival.
If there is no complete red blindness, a special pair of glasses can help. Although they cannot correct color vision deficiency, they can at least compensate for red weakness. Smart lenses filter out a certain part of the light spectrum. The color-correcting glasses work like sunglasses. The lenses are coated with an innovative technology that filters light of a desired wavelength range. This allows the wearer to perceive the color red more intensely and enables a clear distinction between red and green.
