What is the most common form of color blindness?

The most common form of color blindness is red-green color blindness. This condition affects individuals' perception of colors that fall within the red and green wavelengths of the light spectrum. The reason it is prevalent is rooted in genetics, as it is often linked to a mutation on the X chromosome. Because males have only one X chromosome, they are more likely to express this condition than females, who have two X chromosomes and may have a working copy of the gene.

In practical terms, those with red-green color blindness might confuse reds with greens and vice versa, making it challenging to accurately identify certain colors in the environment. This form of color vision deficiency accounts for the majority of diagnoses related to color blindness, comprising various subtypes, including protanopia and deuteranopia.

While other forms of color blindness, such as blue-yellow, achromatopsia, and monochromacy exist, they are much less common. Blue-yellow color blindness affects the perception of blue and yellow hues but is rarer than red-green forms. Achromatopsia is a severe condition that leads to a complete absence of color vision, resulting in viewing the world in shades of gray, and monochromacy refers to seeing only in one color channel.