Color blindness

[jkin]

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Does anyone know anything about color blind students being ineligible for Ophthalmology?

 

[MPS]

As far as I'm aware, there are no such restrictions. I think the only country that has an official policy on colour vision deficiency in physicians is Taiwan, where normal colour vision is required to enter medical school. There is certainly no such policy in the UK, and I've not heard of one in the US; perhaps Andrew Doan will know a little more.

Whether or not you'll be at a disadvantage will depend upon the type of colour vision deficiency you have. It might be worthwhile finding this out - at least then you'll be aware of any limitations you might have. I know a retired family practitioner who only found out he had a colour vision deficiency after he retired. He now thinks that it made him miss a some critical signs in a few patients.

You should bear in mind that it has been proposed that colour vision deficiency conveys an advantage in breaking camouflage that confuses colour normals, so it's even possible that you'd be at an advantage in performing certain tasks.

 

[jkin]

I do know of at least one ophthalmology residency here in the US that does have normal color vision as a requirement. I am looking for info on others.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

I've heard some programs test you during the interview... perhaps this is a rumor? I interviewed at several top residency programs and none asked me about this.

However, I think you are asked on the application if there are any physical limitations that may affect your duties as a physician. I can't quite remember, so it would be great if the current applicants confirm this.

I know of ophthalmologists who are color blind, and I don't think most programs actively determine if you have perfect vision before training you.

 

[jkin]

Do the Ophthalmologists you know say that it limits them in any way? Are any of them Retina?

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by jkin
Do the Ophthalmologists you know say that it limits them in any way? Are any of them Retina?

I don't know the answer to this. None of the ones I know are in Retina.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

jkin,

Read this thread:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=48078

 

[MPS]

Originally posted by jkin
Do the Ophthalmologists you know say that it limits them in any way? Are any of them Retina?

I've known of a few colour-blind ophthalmologists and optometrists. Common problems have been with distinguishing between blood and pigment against a normal retinal background, distinguishing markings on cross-cylinder lenses and in administering the Ishihara plates. These are generalisations, however, because even amongst the (more common) red-green colour vision deficiencies there is significant variation in colour discrimination and colour naming/matching.

Honestly, you should have your colour vision tested. If you've only been tested with the Ishihara plates in the past, then all you can really say is whether you have a red-green deficiency or not. To determine what type to deficiency you have, and how it will affect you, then you need to be tested with a minimum of the FM 100-Hue test and an anomaloscope. A number of people who are "colour-blind" actually have normal colour discrimination. If you fall into this category, then there is no reason why you should worry about missing things, and furthermore there is no reason why you should be discriminated against.

 

[jkin]

I am in the process of getting all possible tests. I am doing summer research with probably the top color blindness researchers in the US. I've had blood drawn for gene sequencing as well.

 

[Vindaloo]

Originally posted by jkin
I am in the process of getting all possible tests. I am doing summer research with probably the top color blindness researchers in the US. I've had blood drawn for gene sequencing as well.

who may i ask are these researchers? if they are a husband and wife team in WI then there are the best. i know them. they have my blood. Very nice people. PM me. good luck!

Also, MPS has been correct. Establish if you are of the deuteranomalous or protanomalous type and of course dicromat or trichromat. If you are working with M and J then you might also have access to ERG.

One question i have is can you "cheat" in ophthalmology and/or medicine? By this i mean a lot of imaging has to do with luminance and contrast. As a color blind individual could you change the brightness or angle of light to change the contrast or luminance to differentiate two structures? Then perhaps you can make it a luminance discrimination task rather than pure color discrimination.

Sorry to get so nerdy. Could be completely wrong....

Good luck!

 

[MPS]

Changing the angle of the illumination is unlikely to help; the same goes for changing the intensity. One thing that sometimes helps is changing the spectral quality of the illuminant (or wearing a chromatic filter). This can reduce some colour comparisons to luminance comparisons; however it has the disadvantage of simultaneously causing confusion between other colours.

 

[jkin]

How do you know M and J?

I will get back to you when I am done testing. They are doing my blood now.

 

[Vindaloo]

Originally posted by jkin
How do you know M and J?

I will get back to you when I am done testing. They are doing my blood now.

Jkin -- I like to call it Six Degrees of JJ. Send me a PM when you are finished with exams. Good luck!

MPS -- you are the man, as we say on the other side of the atlantic. Where will you be doing your clinicals?

 

[MPS]

Originally posted by Vindaloo

MPS -- you are the man, as we say on the other side of the atlantic. Where will you be doing your clinicals?

Clinicals are in and around Cambridge- West Suffolk, Addenbrooke's, Papworth etc.