color blind test?

[snurpy]

So, my boyfriend has matched into his #1 path program, but he also has to go in for a color blind test. We know he's a little red-green colorblind, but didn't realize that the residency would test him. Would being colorblind prevent him from this residency even after the match?

 

[LNsquasher]

Speaking from experience, I had the same scenario and have had no real problems. I "failed" the standard Ishihara screening test and they followed up with simple cards for which I had to identify the colors. I've never had any real-world problems due to my "color blindness" and this test was really, really easy. They informed my program director and we discussed that it hasn't ever been a functional problem for me. And indeed it hasn't been a problem in training (currently a PGY-4) at all. As long as he is able to distinguish colors in the real world, it shouldn't be a huge issue. Though it might be worth bringing it up to the program director ahead of time, so it isn't a last minute, stressful thing the week before starting residency.

 

[snurpy]

Thank you so much! It doesn't affect him in the real world per se, but he gets a little confused when red and green hues are mixed. He jokes that he might have also learned his colors incorrectly as a child.

Still, it's a great relief to know for sure that the color blindness would not prevent him from this residency.

 

[yaah]

I have known color blind pathologists. As far as I know there are no real limitations, but I don't know for sure.