Understanding Deutan Color Vision Deficiency

Color blindness affects hundreds of millions of people, with deutan color blindness being the most common type. I was born with deutan color blindness but with training was able to earn a degree in graphic design and now lead a team of designers and illustrators.

Deutans like me struggle to distinguish reds and greens well due to an issue with their green cone (M-cone) photoreceptors. However, not all deutans experience color blindness the same way. Some have strong deutan color blindness (deuteranopia), where green cones do not function at all, while others like me have mild deutan color blindness (deuteranomaly), where green cone sensitivity is shifted.

Read on to learn the differences between strong and mild deutan color blindness, how they affect daily life, and to learn some tips on how to thrive with color blindness.

What Is Deutan Color Blindness?

Deutan color blindness is a form of red-green color vision deficiency caused by a genetic mutation affecting the green-sensitive (M-cone) photoreceptors in the retina. People with deutan color blindness have trouble distinguishing between reds, greens, browns, oranges, and yellows (learn about which structure is malfunctioning).

Cause

Deutan color blindness is genetically inherited and passed through the X chromosome, making it far more common in men than women. Since men have only one X chromosome, they are more likely to experience deutan vision issues, while women can be carriers without symptoms (read about how color blindness is inherited).

Deutan vs. Protan (Red-Green Deficiencies)

There are two main types of red-green color blindness:

• Deutan (Green Cone Deficiency): Affects the ability to detect green hues, causing confusion between greens, reds, and browns.
• Protan (Red Cone Deficiency): Affects the ability to detect red hues, making reds appear darker and blending them with greens.

Deutan is more common than protan color blindness. Learn about all the types of color blindness.

Strong vs. mild Deutan Color Blindness

What Is Strong Deutan Color Blindness? (Deuteranopia)

Strong deutan color blindness, also known as deuteranopia, occurs when green cones do not function at all. The brain must interpret color based only on signals from red and blue cones, causing significant color confusion.

Effects:

• Severe difficulty distinguishing greens, reds, browns, and oranges.
• Greens may appear yellowish, brownish, or gray.
• Traffic lights, maps, and color-coded instructions can be challenging.

Deuteranopia leads to more extreme color confusion than mild deutan color blindness.

What Is mild Deutan Color Blindness? (Deuteranomaly)

mild deutan color blindness, or deuteranomaly, occurs when green cones still function but are shifted toward red sensitivity. This means people with deuteranomaly can see some greens but struggle with certain shades.

Effects:

• Reds and greens appear closer in hue than they do to normal vision.
• Milder confusion between shades of green, red, orange, and brown.
• Traffic lights and color-coded designs are easier to manage than for strong deutans.

Deuteranomaly is the most common type of color blindness, affecting around 5% of men worldwide.

Key Differences Between Strong and mild Deutan Color Blindness

Feature	Strong Deutan (Deuteranopia)	Mild Deutan (Deuteranomaly)
Green Cone Function	Absent or nearly absent	Present but shifted sensitivity
Color Confusion	More severe	Milder but still noticeable
Daily Life Impact	More challenging	Easier adaptation
Traffic Light Issues	Hard to distinguish red and green	Can differentiate with difficulty
Clothing & Design	Significant trouble matching colors	Less severe, but still noticeable

How Deutan Color Blindness Affects Daily Life

Challenges

Deutans can face difficulties with:

• Traffic lights (especially at night).
• Matching clothes (greens and browns often look similar).
• Reading color-coded charts and graphs.
• Identifying ripe vs. unripe fruit (such as red apples vs. green apples).

Mild vs. Severe Impact

• Mild deutans adapt more easily and may not realize they are color blind until later in life.
• Strong deutans often need alternative strategies, such as using contrast instead of color cues.

Can Deutan Color Blindness Be Cured?

While there’s no definitive medical cure for color blindness, most of the limitations of deutan color blindness can definitely be overcome with the proper tools and training. This is especially true of mild to moderate color blindness which research shows

In my experience, most obstacles can be overcome through the right combination of tools, mental training, and a willingness to learn new ways of seeing. Although “cure” is a strong word, I believe there are promising developments that can bring life-changing improvements for many people.

Learn more about the deutan color blind training cure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is strong deutan color blindness worse than mild deutan color blindness?
   Yes. Strong deutans have no functional green cones, making color distinction harder than mild deutans, who retain some green perception.
2. Can deutan color blindness affect driving?
   Yes, but most countries allow deutans to drive since traffic light position and brightness can be used instead of color.
3. Can deutan color blindness be cured?
   No. It is genetic and permanent, but tools like color-enhancing glasses, apps, and adaptive strategies can help.
4. Are deutans completely color blind?
   No. Deutan color blindness only affects certain colors. People with this condition still see a wide range of hues but experience color confusion between specific shades.

Key Takeaways

• Deutan color blindness is a common type of red-green color deficiency caused by an issue with green cone receptors.
• Strong deutan color blindness (deuteranopia) results in severe color confusion, while mild deutan color blindness (deuteranomaly) leads to milder issues.
• While there is no cure, tools like color blind glasses, apps, and adaptive strategies can help deutans navigate daily life.

Final Thought

Understanding strong and mild deutan color blindness helps improve accessibility in design, education, and everyday interactions. Whether you are color blind or designing for colorblind users, small changes make a big difference.

Last updated: February 09 2025