Ishihara Eyechart

The Ishihara is a test for color blindness. It was named after its designer, Dr. Shinobu Ishihara (1879-1963), a professor at the University of Tokyo, who first published his tests in 1917. It makes use of the peculiarity that in red-green blindness, blue and yellow appear remarkably bright compared to red and green.

It consists of a number of colored plates, on each plate is printed a circle made of many different sized dots of slightly different colors, spread in a random manner. Within the dot pattern, and differentiated only by color, is a number. What, or even if, a number is visible indicates if and what form of color blindness the viewer has. The full test consists of thirty-eight plates, but the existence of a deficiency is usually clear after fewer plates.

The Ishihara Color Charts are accepted by leading authorities worldwide as a simple and accurate test method. The color plates are available in an album-type book for ease of handling.

What is Color Blindness?
Color Blindness (Color Vision Deficiency) is a condition in which certain colors cannot be distinguished, most commonly due to an inherited condition. Red/Green color blindness is by far the most common (99%) form and causes problems in distinguishing reds and greens. Another color deficiency, blue/yellow, also exists but is rare (1%). At this time there is no test universally available for blue/yellow deficiency.

There is no treatment for Color Blindness, nor is it usually the cause of any significant visability. However, it can be very frustrating for individuals affected by it. Those who are not color blind seem to have the misconception that color blindness means that a color blind person sees only in black and white or shades of gray. While this sort of condition is possible, it is extremely rare.