Color blindness and deficiencies are genetically transferred, and affect the cones in the retina. The treatment to date has been with the use of special contact lenses called X Chrome lenses. These lenses are a deep red color and are worn on the non dominant eye. This lens improves, but not completely, ones’ ability to differentiate colors. It is an aid not a cure.

Research being conducted at the Universities of Washington and Florida have reached a possible cure for color blindness in squirrel monkeys. Through the use of a gene transfer technique that added a third cone pigment replacing the one missing from their retinas. Over a period of 5 weeks these monkeys had acquired full color vision. The color identification was measured using the Cambridge color tests.

This gene transfer technique adds the missing color sensitivity to the retinas that were deficient at birth. The researchers employed human DNA which means when the procedure is used on humans no changes in the clinical therapy would be needed.

This revolutionary technique is the first step in curing color blindness and may mean and end to this common condition.