Color Blindness Glasses | Cost and How They Work

Color blindness is a common condition, especially in men, where a person cannot see certain color shades. Complete color blindness, in which vision is only in shades of black, gray, or white, is rare.

Most people with color vision deficiency have difficulty telling the difference between red and green. This condition is usually inherited; however, it can also develop over time if the eye is damaged by injury or by another condition that affects vision. Certain medications and aging can also lead to color blindness.

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Color Blindness Glasses

There is currently no cure for inherited color blindness, but there are special glasses that can improve color perception for people with common types of red-green color blindness. Results vary depending on the type and severity of the color vision deficiency.

For proper assessment and guidance, you are advised to visit the Eye Center at Al Batal Specialized Complex in Jeddah, which is known for its experienced ophthalmologists, high‑quality diagnostic technology, and reasonable prices.

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How Much Do Color Blindness Glasses Cost?

For adults, color blindness glasses typically cost between $200 and $400. For children, prices usually start at about $269. At this time, most insurance plans do not cover color blindness glasses.

Because of their price, these glasses are considered a luxury item for many people, costing several hundred dollars. Buyers should have realistic expectations about how much benefit they will actually get before purchasing.

There are also other devices that help enhance color contrast, such as specialty hunting glasses and contrast‑enhancing filters used in photography.

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ENChroma Glasses

ENChroma is currently the best‑known brand of color blindness glasses. In most cases of color vision deficiency, the problem lies in abnormal, overlapping responses to light by cells in the retina—most often the cone cells that are normally sensitive to green or red wavelengths of light.

ENChroma lenses use special optical materials that filter out specific wavelengths of light. As a result, wearers may experience more accurate and vivid color perception. However, the manufacturer warns against using ENChroma glasses while driving.

These glasses were developed by Andrew Schmeder, a researcher and mathematician trained at the University of California, Berkeley.

ColorCorrection System Glasses

ColorCorrection System glasses are another branded option for color blindness. This system is designed to match the precise wavelengths of light to an individual’s specific color vision correction needs.

Other brands of color‑correcting glasses are also available for purchase online. Most of these are relatively inexpensive because they are essentially tinted lenses. They usually provide minimal or no real benefit for people with true color blindness.

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What to Consider Before Buying Color Blindness Glasses

Color blindness glasses reduce the amount of light entering the eyes, so they are not ideal for nighttime use. Reducing incoming light can also be problematic for people with cataracts or macular degeneration.

Do Color Blindness Glasses Really Work?

Inherited color blindness occurs when one or more of the cone photoreceptors needed for color vision are missing or not working properly in the retina. People who have trouble detecting green or red light experience overlap between certain light wavelengths that the brain interprets as red or green.

Color blindness glasses use specific metal compounds in the lenses to absorb and filter out some of the overlapping wavelengths between green and red. With less overlap, the brain receives a clearer signal and can better distinguish these colors.

However, color blindness glasses will not help people who completely lack red or green cone photoreceptors.

The positive effects of these glasses last only while you are wearing them. Color blindness glasses do not change:

– The structure of the eye  

– The retina  

– The optic nerve  

– The visual centers in the brain  

In simple terms, the glasses modify the light entering the eyes, improving red‑green discrimination while worn. 

For a comprehensive eye examination and effective treatment options at reasonable prices, we recommend visiting the Eye Center at Al Batal Specialized Complex in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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Taking care of your eye health requires regular visits to an ophthalmologist, monitoring your vision, and carefully following medical advice and instructions. To enjoy strong, problem‑free eyesight—or if you are interested in reducing dependence on reading glasses—visit our clinics to benefit from the best diagnostic methods and advanced technologies.