Causes

Most color blindness is inherited. Less frequently, color blindness is caused by a disease affecting the optic nerve or retina. This is referred to as “acquired color blindness.”

Anatomy of the Eye

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Risk Factors

Heredity is the primary factor that controls your chance of having color blindness. If your mother, father, or grandparents were color blind, you may have the gene(s) that cause color blindness.

The following risk factors increase your chance of developing acquired color blindness:

• Males are more likely than females to have color blindness.
• Having certain diseases may increases your risk for developing color blindness.
• Certain medications, including some that are prescribed for heart problems, high blood pressure , or nervous disorders, may increase your risk for developing color blindness or deficiency.