Prevalence of colour vision deficiency in a medical university of Karachi

ABSTRACT

Cones in the retina arc responsible for color vision. Colour vision defects [CVD] can be congenital and acquired. Congenital color vision deficiencies are often ignored clinically. It has serious implications in daily life as well as on occupations especially in the medical field. Early detection of this problem can help people in choosing occupations. The present study aims to find the prevalence of CVD in medical students at the start of their career to help them in specialties. A total of 787 medical students were made to read the Ishihara charts in normal daylight. Those who made more than three mistakes in reading from plate's no. 10 to 17 were identified as colour vision deficient [red green deficiency]. Those subjects who were unable to read any of the plates correctly were labeled as total colour blinds. The subjects suffering from red green deficiency were 1.59%. The medical students suffering from total colour blindness were 0.53%. It is suggested that population screening for colour vision defects [CVD] in schools and medical universities should be carried to help medical practitioners in clinical practice