Dr. Cohen fitted him with glasses and he passed the test the second time around. He has not informed his boss about the lenses, but he makes no apology for that omission. Dr. Cohen believes him. In his view, screening tests often eliminate people with mild cases of color deficiency who could do the job just fine. And even for those with more moderate cases, cues in the environment can be valuable aids.
Dentists can consult color-coded charts to identify matches in caps, for example.
When he needs to evaluate a television program for broadcast quality, he uses the Vectorscope, a commonly used measurement device that determines the value of color. In another positive development, scientists at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have invented and patented a simple genetic test for inherited red-green color blindness, the most common form of the predominantly inherited condition. ColorMax Technologies Inc., a Tustin, Calif., company that is licensed to market the laboratory test, says the method requires only a swipe on the inside of the cheek, making screening easier and more uniform. Although still in development, if widely used, the test could result in earlier detection in childhood, a key to helping people cope with the disorder. Colored lights, used extensively in hospitals, construction, computers and transportation, could be replaced with blinking signals and signals based on design, which are easier to detect, she says.