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Best Color Blindness Correction Glasses

Updated September 2022
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Pilestone Red-Green Color Blind Glasses
Pilestone
Red-Green Color Blind Glasses
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

A pair of red-green glasses made by a respected brand that are durable and designed for both indoor and outdoor use.

Pros

Durable frames and titanium-coated purple lenses. Water- and scratch-resistant. Built to last with strong materials. Lenses provide UV protection.

Cons

Some felt they were a bit too dark for indoors.

Best Bang for the Buck
Pilestone GM-2 Color Blind Corrective Glasses
Pilestone
GM-2 Color Blind Corrective Glasses
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Lightweight Frames
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These corrective glasses have the appearance of deep-red sunglasses and the power to change the quality of life for colorblind wearers.

Pros

Lightweight frames are comfortable to wear. Enhances subtle colors like pink. Improves blues, not just reds and greens.

Cons

Noticeable alteration of natural colors. Not suitable for epileptics.

Pilestone Red-Green Color Blind Aviator Glasses
Pilestone
Red-Green Color Blind Aviator Glasses
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Most Stylish
Bottom Line

The corrective power of Pilestone lenses set in stylish aviator frames.

Pros

Sleek metal frame. Built to last with quality materials. Hardened lenses are water- and scratch-resistant. Provides protection from UV rays. Many users feel these are very effective.

Cons

Frames were too small for some users.

EnChroma Color Blind Glasses
EnChroma
Color Blind Glasses
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

A pair of attractive glasses by a top brand that is made with unique spectral lens technology.

Pros

Award-winning patented spectral lens technology provides optimum color and clarity. Lenses absorb UV rays and have anti-reflective coating to reduce glare. Lenses repel water and dirt. Stylish frames.

Cons

A fairly pricey pick.

Pilestone TP-012 Color Blind Corrective Glasses for Red-Green Blindness
Pilestone
TP-012 Color Blind Corrective Glasses for Red-Green Blindness
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Best for Beginners
Bottom Line

An affordable alternative to expensive red-green prescription lenses. Does not correct other forms of colorblindness, however. A great "first" pair for the newly diagnosed.

Pros

Immediate red-green color correction. Provides higher definition color spectrum in general. Enhances red and green traffic signs and lights.

Cons

Limited to red-green color weakness. Frames are cheaply constructed. Minimal improvement reported on some color blindness tests.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
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88
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Buying guide for Best color blindness correction glasses

Color blindness correction glasses allow those with color blindness to adjust the way colors are perceived. Different types of color blindness call for different corrective glasses, so it’s important to understand your impairment before purchasing a pair of color blindness correction glasses.

Once you know what type of color blindness you are affected by, you should have an idea of when and where you will wear your glasses most. Some glasses are designed for indoor use, while others are slightly tinted and are best suited to the outdoors. If you plan to wear your correction glasses over prescription glasses, you should look for a pair specifically designed for this purpose. You should also find a pair of glasses with a frame style that suits you.

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Tritanomaly is a condition in which your blue cone cells have limited function. Tritanopia is a condition in which you lack blue cone cells completely. Both are forms of blue-yellow color blindness.

What is color blindness?

Color blindness is a condition that prevents you from seeing colors accurately. There may be certain colors that you can’t tell apart. Both eyes are typically affected, and it’s a lifelong condition that cannot be permanently reversed.

The inability to see colors normally occurs because cones in the retina which detect color aren’t present, don’t function properly, or misinterpret one color as another. Color blindness can occur if there is an issue with one or more cones.

  • If three cones are missing or not working properly, the affected person will have severe color blindness.

  • If all three cones are present but one doesn’t function properly, the affected person will have mild color blindness.

With mild color blindness, you may be able to see colors normally in bright lighting but have difficulty telling them apart in low lighting. Severe color blindness usually means you can’t tell certain colors apart no matter how good the lighting is.

The most severe form of color blindness causes you to see everything in shades of gray. This is extremely rare.

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Did you know?
Color blindness is more common in men. Nearly one in 12 men experience some type of color blindness, whereas only one in 200 women experience any degree of color blindness.
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Types of color blindness

There are two main types of color blindness: red-green and blue-yellow.

Red-green color blindness

Red-green color blindness is the most common type. Either the red cone or the green cone is affected, so the ability to perceive either red or green is affected. If the red cone is the problem, you may see red, orange, or yellow shades as greener than they actually are and colors in general as dull. Or, you may see red shades as black and some yellow, orange, and green shades as yellower than they actually are.

If the green cone is the problem, you may see green and yellow shades as redder than they really are and be unable to distinguish purple from blue. Or, you may see green shades as beige and red shades as yellowish brown.

Blue-yellow color blindness

Blue-yellow color blindness doesn’t occur as often as red-green color blindness. The cones that perceive blue are affected, so blue shades appear greener than they really are, and you may have difficulty distinguishing yellow and red from pink. In other cases, yellow shades may look purple or gray.

Color correction type

In order for color blindness correction glasses to be effective, they must address the type of color blindness that you have. Most glasses are designed to correct red-green color blindness. There are a wide variety of options to choose from. If you suffer from blue-yellow color blindness, however, there aren’t as many options on the market.

Before you buy a pair of color blindness correction glasses, be sure to read the manufacturer's product specifications. You want to make sure the glasses will correct the type of color blindness you have.

Indoor/Outdoor

Some color blindness correction glasses are designed primarily for indoor use, where artificial lighting can affect the way you see colors. Others are designed mainly for outdoor use; they work better in sunlight because they offer greater tinting on the lenses. You can also find color blindness correction glasses that are designed for both indoor and outdoor use.

When you’re choosing a pair of glasses, consider where you plan to wear them. You’ll want the lenses to be effective for the lighting you’ll experience most often.

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Caution
Don’t wear color blindness correction glasses that are designed for outdoor use indoors. The lenses will likely be too dark for artificial lighting conditions.
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Frame style

Color blindness correction glasses are usually more comfortable if the frames are made of lightweight plastic or metal. Some have fully adjustable frames for enhanced comfort and fit. Most styles resemble sunglasses frames; you can get a fairly stylish look with a basic black or tortoise-shell finish. Glasses with metal frames typically offer the most subtle look. This may be best for you if you don’t want the glasses to be too obvious.

If you wear prescription glasses and want to place color blindness correction glasses over them, look for a pair with sporty frames or a wrap-around style. These tend to be larger, so you can easily slip them over another pair of glasses. Sporty frames are also a good option if you need color blindness correction glasses that are durable for work or play.

Anti-reflective coating

If you plan to wear color blindness correction glasses over prescription glasses, choose a corrective pair with an anti-reflective coating on the lenses. This will help cut down on any reflection between the two pairs of glasses that might affect your vision.

Color blindness correction glasses prices

Prices for color blindness correction glasses vary based on the type of color blindness they correct and the quality of the frames. Most pairs runs between $50 and $450. Here’s an idea what you can expect to get for your money.

Inexpensive

A pair of red-green color blindness correction glasses with lower-quality frames typically costs $50 to $100. A pair of blue-yellow color blindness correction glasses with lower-quality frames typically costs slightly more – between $60 and $115.

Mid-range

A pair of red-green color blindness correction glasses with average-quality frames typically costs $100 to $275. A pair of blue-yellow color blindness correction glasses with average-quality frames typically costs $115 to $250.

Expensive

A pair of red-green color blindness correction glasses with high-quality frames typically costs $275 to $450. A pair of blue-yellow color blindness correction glasses with high-quality frames typically costs $250 to $375.

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Red-green color blindness can affect your daily life in a variety of ways. For example, it may be difficult to read traffic lights or determine if your meat is cooked through.

FAQ

Q. How do color blindness correction glasses work?

A. Color blindness affects the way the cones in your retina perceive wavelengths of light. In turn, your ability to differentiate between certain colors is impaired. Color blindness correction glasses have tinted lenses that can remove certain wavelengths of light, so you can distinguish between colors more easily.

Not all color blindness correction glasses work on all types of color blindness. Specific wavelengths must be removed to address your specific color vision issues.

Q. Do color blindness correction glasses work instantly?

A. It can actually take some time for your eyes to adjust to the lenses. Give yourself at least 10 minutes to adjust to the darker tint of the glasses; don’t remove them as your eyes adjust. To become fully adjusted to the glasses, some manufacturers recommend wearing them for at least 10 hours in a variety of lighting situations over the course of one to two weeks.

Q. Are there any side effects from wearing color blindness correction glasses?

A. You shouldn’t experience any side effects from using color blindness correction glasses. If you notice that you’re getting a headache or experiencing eye strain, it may be a sign that you need an update to your vision prescription. Consult an eye care professional to make sure you’re using the appropriate glasses for your vision issues.