| Sumario: | Purpose: Visually impaired (VI) patients have significant ocular disease and may have acquired color vision defects (CVD). There is a scarcity of reports on color vision (CV) testing/CVD prevalence among VI patients in vision rehabilitation clinics (VRC). The purpose of this study was to assess moderate/severe CVD among VI patients and trends related to symptomology, VI, and ocular diagnosis. Methods: Adults attending a VRC were surveyed regarding CV. Color vision was tested using the 3.3 centimeter stimulus size ‘Panel 16 Quantitative Color Vision Test’ (D-15). Patients were classified as CVD if there were 2 or more major crossover errors in either eye. Severity of VI was classified based on visual acuity. The primary cause of VI was sub-classified as optic nerve, retina, or other. Results: Ninety-nine patients completed D-15 testing. VI level in the better-seeing eye ranged between normal/near normal to profound. Nearly half of the patients tested (43.3%) were classified as CVD. The type of CVD could not be assessed in the majority of subjects. The level of VI among those with CVD was 27.9% normal/near normal, 41.9% moderate impairment, and 30.2% severe impairment or worse. A history of CVD was reported by 39% with CVD and 17.3% without CVD. Of those with color vision deficiency, the VI cause was retinal disease in 65.1%, optic nerve disease in 30.2%, and other in 4.7%. Conclusion: D-15 testing was completed on patients with a wide range of VI levels, demonstrating the feasibility of color vision assessment in a VRC clinic. There was a high percentage of CVD identified. Of those with CVD, there was a range in the level of VI and type of ocular disease identified. Although there is no treatment for CVD, addressing the CVD in the individual rehabilitation plan is recommended and can enhance the practitioner’s ability to assist the patient in activities of daily living. Education concerning acquired CVD and specific activities that CVD may impact is essential, especially due to possible progression as the ocular conditions worsen.
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