Achromatopsia is a non-perception of color. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease

Achromatopsia is a serious disease of the visual apparatus, in which the perception of colors is completely disturbed. Thus, a person sees all the objects around him in black and white. The cause of achromasia is often heredity, but if the center of the retina or optic nerve is damaged, color perception may also be compromised.

Symptoms of the disease

With achromatopsia, the following symptomatic manifestations can be noted:

• Problems with the perception of individual shades (red, blue, green) - a person sees objects in black and white;
• Complete loss of vision;
• photophobia.

With incomplete loss of color perception , a person has a sharper vision. With such a disease, visibility during twilight significantly improves. In this case, the patient is diagnosed with incomplete achromatopsia, which means that disturbances in the visual apparatus can be eliminated.

Diagnosis of Achromasia

Diagnosis of the disease can be at the earliest age during lessons with the child, aimed at studying color differences. A healthy person fully functional three cone mechanisms, with achromasia, the work of cones is violated, a person sees everything around only in black and white.

People suffering from achromatopsia can not be without glasses in sunlight, since the rays, acting on the retina, cause painful sensations.

To diagnose the disease, ophthalmologists use Rabkhin's polychromatic tables, or electroretinography. Therefore, if a child has symptoms of achromatopsia, he should immediately contact a medical institution.

What is achromatopsia can be explained in more detail and in detail only by a doctor who will analyze the results of the research and be able to identify the cause of the onset of the disease (congenital (genetic) or acquired as a result of the transfer of some diseases or damage to the visual apparatus).

Treatment of the disease

At the moment there are no options for a complete cure. The only thing that can be done is to reduce photophobia and slightly improve visual acuity. To do this, you should regularly wear special sunglasses, do exercises for the eyes and follow all the advice of an ophthalmologist.

It is possible that the development of science in the future will enable such patients to feel the fullness of life. Achromatopsia is not completely treated. In some cases, it is possible to improve the patient's condition, but this is more a matter of neutralizing the symptoms, rather than eliminating them. It is not possible to cure achromasia caused by chromosomal abnormalities.

Teaching children with achromatopsia and socializing the disease

There are no contraindications for visiting a regular school by a child whose achromatopsia is diagnosed. This means that he has every right to go to school without a specialized tilt. The only thing that needs to be done is to warn the teachers. Such children can learn very well, despite the problems with their eyesight.

If necessary, it is necessary to provide the child with textbooks with an increased font or to provide him with magnifying devices that will simplify the reading process. A child with achromatopsia should sit in the front row, as a violation of visual acuity significantly affects the perception.

In adulthood, there are some limitations, for example, a person with a lack of color perception can not drive a car or be an employee in a field where a color difference is a necessary moment.

Achromatopsia: photo

You can find a large number of photos, which clearly shows the differences in a healthy visual apparatus that has color-responsive disorders.

In the photo clearly on the left is the absence of cones - the cells responsible for perception and the ability to distinguish colors.

For an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to perform electroretinography. This method of diagnosis is optimal when suspected of achromatism.

Neutralize the symptoms of the disease (in particular pain when exposed to light rays) can be using special glasses equipped with red glasses.

Achromatopsia is a disease that almost does not cause any inconvenience to a person, since he has not been able to see the colorfulness of the world since birth. Because of this, people who have this disease, formed an individual color perception, which is dominated by shades of gray, white and black.

Difficulties can appear only in the case of the acquired disease, then it is difficult for a person to put up, he is often overcome by depressive conditions. The development of achromasia can be a consequence of traumas of the pituitary gland or inflammations of the brain department localized in the proportion responsible for the functioning of the perception of color.