And as color becomes more widely used in everything from newspapers to computers, it poses new challenges to colorblind workers. Increasingly, though, there is reason for colorblind people to hope that they can crack careers once denied to them. Some employers are unilaterally relaxing standards. But technology takes the most credit, as improved products hit the market. Factories and stores often have machines that help workers match paint colors, for example.
Software tools are now available to help Web designers create user-friendly pages.
And special lenses that do not cure but are intended to aid color vision are being produced and marketed more widely. That has made a difference for one of Dr. Cohen's patients, a photo-copier technician for the Xerox Corporation. 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.