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EnChroma corrects red-green color vision defi ciency in 80 percent of cases; above, a simulation of normal vision vs. red-green color blindness.
EnChroma glasses for the color-blind are available online; above, the EnChroma Explorer in matte black.
Following 10 years of research and development, which included three National Institutes of Health (NIH) SBIR-funded studies conducted at UC Berkeley and UC Davis, EnChroma eyewear emerged in 2010 as a specialty eyewear for the alleviation of red-green color blindness.

Commonly referred to as “color blindness glasses,” EnChroma eyewear is available in both prescription and non-prescription styles, using multi-notch filtering to alleviate red-green photopigment overlap by targeting and eliminating sharp wavelengths of light, resulting in the enhancement of specific colors, according to the company.

EnChroma is available in three densities, listed in ascending order of color transmittance:

Cx-14 (14 percent transmittance)—the standard dark sunglass option for outdoor use.
Cx-25 (25 percent transmittance)—the medium sunglass lens, ideal for indoor/outdoor use.
Cx65 (65 percent transmittance)—indoor/computer lens.

Although EnChroma color-correcting lenses enhance the vibrancy and saturation of certain colors and improve color discrimination, depth and detail and are estimated to help 80 percent of CVD patients, the company emphasized that the eyewear is not a “cure” for color blindness.

In addition, said EnChroma president and CEO, Andy Schmeder, while some people have an immediate “wow” reaction to EnChroma glasses, many patients see a small immediate difference, but report large long-term effects including better color discrimination and improved ability to name colors. The role of the ECP, therefore, is crucial, Schmeder said.

“Similar to adapting to a new prescription, or to first-time use of a progressive lens, the EnChroma patient benefits from expert coaching to understand the importance of giving adequate effort and time for the neural plasticity in the brain to adapt and incorporate new information from the eyes,” said Schmeder. “Eyecare professionals understand this better than anyone and are uniquely qualified to guide people with color blindness through the experience of using EnChroma glasses to achieve the greatest possible benefit.”

To prepare for dispensing EnChroma, the company offers a free, three-part training video online. Practitioners interested in carrying EnChroma are also encouraged to take (and screen patients with) the EnChroma CVD test, also available online. The test expands on the Ishihara test to determine the likelihood the glasses will correct CVD for each individual candidate. n