Gene therapy has cured color blindness in monkeys, according to study results announced in September 2009 by researchers at the University of Washington and University of Florida.
While early findings look promising, gene therapy would not be considered for humans until treatments are proven to be safe.
Meanwhile, there is no cure for color blindness. But some coping strategies may help you function better in a color-oriented world.
Most people are able to adapt to color vision deficiencies without too much trouble. But some professions, such as graphic design and occupations that require handling various colors of electrical wiring, depend on accurate color perception.
If you become aware of a color deficiency early enough in life, you may be able to compensate by training for one of the many careers that are not as dependent on the ability to see in a full range of colors.
Diagnosing color vision deficiency early also may prevent learning problems during school years, particularly because many learning materials rely heavily on color perception. If your child has a color deficiency, be sure to speak with his or her teachers about it, so they can plan their lessons and presentations accordingly.
Some people use special lenses to enhance color perception, which are filters available in either contact lens or eyeglass lens form. These types of lenses are available from a limited number of eye care practitioners in the United States and other countries. If your regular eye doctor doesn't handle these types of lenses, ask for a referral so that you can seek out someone who might be able to assist you.
You also can learn ways to work around your inability to pick out certain colors. For example, you might organize and label your clothing to avoid color clashes. (Ask friends or family members to help!) And you might remember items by their order rather than their color. An example would be to recognize that the red light is at the top of the traffic light, and green is at the bottom.
Make sure you see your eye care practitioner for extra advice if you have difficulty distinguishing colors or if you've observed this difficulty in your child
