RGB Anomaloscope Color Blindness Test
- Posted by Daniel Flück on March 11th, 2008 filed in Tests
The anomaloscope is the most accurate tool to classify your color blindness. Since it was developed by a German ophthalmologist just over 100 years ago it is used all over the world to check the severity of ones color vision deficiency and its specific subtype.
The classical anomaloscope is used to identify red-green color blindness. It consists of two different light sources which have to be matched. One source is a yellow lamp which can be adjusted in its brightness. The other one is made by a mixture of a red and a green lamp, whereas the mixture between those two colors can be calibrated.
According to the match the tool can tell you details about the following facts of your color blindness:
- Red- vs. green-blindness,
- dichromacy vs. anomalous trichromacy,
- and the severity of your color vision deficiency,
As this tool is only available as a quite expensive equipment I tried to simulate it online. I knew that there is only a little chance to get the same results as the real anomaloscope. But I tried it anyway and designed the RGB Anomaloscope. As all computer displays are based on the colors red, green, and blue, it will always be a simple approximation of the real test.
The diagram below shows the test results as matching-lines of some red-green colorblind persons. Each point means that this person matched a certain red-green combination to some shade of yellow. Non-colorblind people would only match the point 50/50 with some variances.
Unfortunately the results didn’t turn out as I thought. I couldn’t find any split between red- and green-blind persons. Also it isn’t that easy to judge the severity of a red-green color blindness.
Anyway, the test is online and you are welcome to try it out. Maybe there will be some improvements in future releases of the RGB Anomaloscope Color Blindness Test, so stay tuned.
A big thanks to everybody who helped me to develop the test.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:52
I have done this before when I went to hosipital to check my color blindness problem. It is something like microscope. The doctor continuely adjusted the 2 colors in it, and asked me if they were matched at the same time.
it was quite annoying to do this…the doctor was very impatient on doing the test for me. actually few people asked for this test. (I am from China)
April 14th, 2008 at 19:42
I am a red-green colorblind female. Both GF colorblind, mother is carrier. My sister is also colorblind and one brother. Other brother normal color vision.
I also have simian lines (straight) on both palms of hands (like Tony Blair).
June 1st, 2008 at 13:20
Hi there - fascinating test - thanks for working on it. I’ve reviewed your graphical results analysis and would be interested to hear more explanation of your phrase “Each point means that this person matched a certain red-green combination to some shade of yellow. Non-colorblind people would only match the point 50/50 with some variances”. I am a scientist and am not afraid of statistical analysis - but would appreciate help in exploring your interpretation. I am wanting (of course) to explore the interpretation of my own result. Best wishes
Alano.
June 2nd, 2008 at 20:34
Alano, what I mean with this sentence is, that non-colorblind people only match the point with the mixture of 50% green and 50% red to some medium (50%) yellow. Medium yellow in the viewpoint of the test. If you are colorblind you will also be able to match some unequal combinations of red and green to some shade of yellow.
July 1st, 2008 at 20:52
It said that i was moderate to strong red/green colourblind. But Due to various test, I know that that is not true, Except for short sight, i have perfect vision. Sorry, but you test doesn’t work. try again.
July 1st, 2008 at 20:53
Sorry, I take that back. Didn’t read the blurb, my bad.