Achromatopsia Guide


Congenital Achromatopsia or achromatopia as it is otherwise known is a rare condition that is passed down through families, from affected parents to their children. This is not to say that if your parent has it you will definitely get it, more that you are at an increased risk of developing the condition.

Acquired achromatopsia gives the same symptoms, however it is not present from birth as congenital achromatopsia is. It occurs when the brain is severely damaged, usually in an accident. Depending on the area of the brain that is damaged, you will experience different symptoms.

Roughly translated, achromatopsia means a lack of colour vision and occurs due to problems with special parts of your eye.  There are a number of different estimates as to how many people suffer from this condition. The most accurate seems to be that for every 100,000 people, just over 3 will have the condition.

Achromatopsia causes colour blindness, poor vision of detail and light sensitivity.  It is more common amongst women than men and is caused by the presence of defective cone cells, which are responsible for sharpness of vision and enable us to see colour and variations in contrast. 

Severe achromatopsia is rare and results in extreme light sensitivity, poor visual acuity and nystagmus (involuntary eye movement).  The main symptom is photophobia, which is extreme light sensitivity and little or no colour vision as well as poor distant vision.  Symptoms of achromatopsia can be controlled by sunglasses, low lighting and tinted contact lenses.

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