1. See an Ophthalmologist
An eye doctor can diagnose your particular type of colorblindness using the so-called Ishihara Color Test. The vast majority of patients have what's known as red-green colorblindness. That said, you may have a different case (e.g. blue-yellow blindness), which may require different remedies. Your ophthalmologist can also recommend medications, filters to be worn over your eyeglasses and support groups in your area.
2. Avoid Jobs that Require Color-Mapping
Steer clear of work in fields that require employees to have an acute sense of color. Police officers, clothing designers and some teachers and scientists all rely on superior powers of discrimination between red and green colorations.
3. Take Precautions in Everyday Life
One of the most dangerous situations that colorblind individuals face regularly is an inability to discriminate between the yellow, red and green colors on a stoplight. Memorize the position of lights on a traffic light. If you have difficulty determining when red meat has been fully cooked, get someone to help. If you own road maps with lots of green and red lines (assuming you're green-red colorblind), buy other maps or switch to GPS. If you need to make a decorative or clothing decision that involves significant color discrimination skills, lean on individuals who can identify color to assist you.
4. Avoid Chemicals and Medications that Might Exacerbate or Cause Colorblindness
Fertilizers, high blood pressure medications, carbon disulfide, heart drugs, and other meds and chemicals can cause temporary or even permanent loss of color vision. If you believe that your colorblindness may be the result of exposure to one or more of these outside agents, consult your ophthalmologist.
5. Test Whether Your Colorblindness Indicates Other Conditions or Diseases
A failure to perceive a difference between blue and yellow (or red and green) may indicate a more serious underlying condition. Such conditions can range from macular degeneration to sickle cell anemia to Alzheimer's Disease. Diabetic patients and chronic alcoholics can also report a loss of color vision. To restore your ability to discriminate among colors and also protect your health over the long term, talk to your physician about how to treat these underlying disorders.
