Colour Vision Clinic Perth & Fremantle
Comprehensive assessment of colour vision deficiencies — for everyday life, health monitoring, and occupational requirements.
What Is a Colour Vision Deficiency?
Colour vision deficiency (CVD) — commonly known as “colour blindness” — is a condition in which a person has difficulty distinguishing between certain colours. Despite the name, the vast majority of people with CVD can still see colour; they simply perceive some hues differently from others.
CVD affects approximately 8% of males and 0.5% of females of Northern European descent in Australia. It is broadly classified into two categories: congenital (present from birth) and acquired (developing later in life).
Present from Birth
Congenital CVD is inherited and caused by an alteration in one or more of the three types of cone photoreceptors in the retina. The most common forms are red-green deficiencies — deuteranopia/deuteranomaly (green cones) and protanopia/protanomaly (red cones). A rarer form, tritanopia, affects blue-yellow discrimination. Congenital CVD affects both eyes equally and does not progress over time.
Developing Later in Life
Acquired CVD develops as a result of disease, injury, medication, or ageing. Conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and optic neuritis can all affect colour perception. Certain medications may also impair colour vision. Unlike congenital CVD, acquired forms can affect one eye differently, may progress over time, and often involve the blue-yellow axis first.
How We Test Colour Vision
At For Eyes Optometrist, we use a carefully selected battery of tests to accurately identify the type and severity of any colour vision deficiency. Each test provides different and complementary information, allowing us to build a complete picture of your colour vision.
1. Ishihara Plates
The Ishihara test is the most widely used screening tool for red-green colour vision deficiencies. It consists of a series of circular plates filled with coloured dots in which numbers or pathways are embedded. People with normal colour vision can read the figures clearly, while those with a red-green deficiency see different numbers or cannot identify them at all. The Ishihara test is fast, reliable, and an excellent first-line screen.
2. Hardy-Rand-Rittler (HRR) Plates
The HRR test extends beyond the Ishihara by detecting both red-green and blue-yellow (tritan) deficiencies. It uses symbols rather than numbers and is graded in severity — mild, medium, or strong. The HRR is particularly valuable when assessing acquired CVD, where blue-yellow defects are more commonly encountered, and provides a clearer classification of deficiency type and severity.
3. Farnsworth D-15 & Desaturated D-15 (Lanthony)
Both tests are hue arrangement tests in which the patient places a sequence of 15 coloured caps in order of perceived colour similarity. The arrangement is then plotted on a circular diagram — characteristic crossing errors reveal the axis and severity of any deficiency.
Farnsworth D-15
Uses moderately saturated caps. Identifies moderate-to-severe deficiencies and classifies the defect axis (protan, deutan, or tritan). Mild anomalous trichromats will typically pass. Particularly useful for occupational screening where a clear pass/fail threshold is required (e.g. transport, aviation, electrical trades).
Lanthony Desaturated D-15
Uses low-chroma pastel versions of the same hue sequence. The reduced chromatic signal makes the task more demanding, and therefore more sensitive. Detects mild congenital defects that the standard D-15 would miss, and is particularly well-suited to detecting and monitoring acquired dyschromatopsia in conditions such as:
- Glaucoma and optic neuritis
- Diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration
- Toxic maculopathy (e.g. hydroxychloroquine, ethambutol)
- Age-related lens changes
4. FALANT Lantern Test — Optec 900
The Farnsworth Lantern Test (FALANT) was developed to simulate the coloured signal lights used in aviation and maritime settings, testing the ability to reliably identify red, green, and white lights under controlled conditions. The FALANT is approved by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) as an alternative colour vision test for aviation medical assessments. See the CASA section below for further details.
Colour Vision Testing for Work & Licensing
Many occupations and licensing bodies in Australia have specific colour vision standards. Failing to meet these requirements can affect employment, training eligibility, or professional certification. At For Eyes Optometrist, we can assess your colour vision against the standards relevant to your occupation and provide a formal report where required.
CASA Aviation Colour Vision Assessment
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requires that applicants for an Australian aviation medical certificate demonstrate adequate colour vision. Colour perception is assessed under CASR Part 67 and is relevant to Class 1 (airline transport), Class 2 (private pilot), and Class 3 (air traffic controller) medicals.
Applicants who do not pass standard Ishihara screening may be assessed using the FALANT Lantern Test as a CASA-approved alternative. A pass on the FALANT demonstrates the ability to correctly identify aviation signal colours and may allow an applicant to obtain a medical certificate — with or without colour vision restrictions — depending on the outcome and class of medical sought.
Our principal optometrist is a CASA-certified optometrist and is authorised to conduct aviation colour vision assessments, including administration of the FALANT Lantern Test. If you are applying for or renewing an aviation medical, or have been referred by a CASA Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME), please contact us to arrange your assessment.
Meet the Optometrists
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Adrian Rossiter
Founder / Optometrist
Adrian has over 35 years of experience as an optometrist in independent practice, as a contact lens adviser to industry and as a family eye care practitioner. His professional interests revolve around improving children’s vision and working with specialty contact lenses for adults and children.
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Sinead Denny
Optometrist
Sinead is passionate about all areas of Optometry including contact lenses, myopia control and Indigenous Eye Health. Sinead is also involved in running a Diabetic Eye Screening clinic at Fremantle Hospital and the supervision of students in the Doctor of Optometry at the University of Western Australia.
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Hannah Jackson
Optometrist
Hannah completed her Master of Optometry at Deakin University with distinction. She has a particular interest in paediatric optometry together with colour vision testing and low vision care. She holds an advanced certificate in children’s vision and is a CASA certified optometrist.
Colour Blind Test FAQs
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Colour vision deficiency, often called colour blindness, is when a person has difficulty distinguishing between certain colours. Most people with colour vision deficiency can still see colour, but they may see some hues differently from others.
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Congenital colour vision deficiency is inherited and present from birth. It usually affects both eyes equally and does not progress over time. Acquired colour vision deficiency develops later in life due to disease, injury, medication or ageing. It may affect one eye differently, can progress over time and often affects blue-yellow colour discrimination first.
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For Eyes Optometrist uses a range of colour vision tests to identify the type and severity of colour vision deficiency. These include Ishihara Plates, Hardy-Rand-Rittler (HRR) Plates, Farnsworth D-15, Lanthony Desaturated D-15 and the FALANT Lantern Test.
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The Ishihara test is a common screening test for red-green colour vision deficiencies. It uses circular plates made up of coloured dots, with numbers or pathways embedded in the design. People with normal colour vision can usually identify the figures clearly, while people with a red-green deficiency may see different numbers or be unable to identify them.
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The Hardy-Rand-Rittler, or HRR, test detects both red-green and blue-yellow colour vision deficiencies. It uses symbols rather than numbers and can help grade the severity of the deficiency as mild, medium or strong.
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The Farnsworth D-15 test is a hue arrangement test where the patient places 15 coloured caps in order of perceived colour similarity. It helps identify moderate-to-severe deficiencies and classify the defect as protan, deutan or tritan. It is also useful for occupational screening where a clear pass or fail result may be required.
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The Lanthony Desaturated D-15 test uses lower-chroma pastel colours, making it more sensitive than the standard D-15. It can help detect mild congenital defects and is particularly useful for monitoring acquired colour vision changes linked to conditions such as glaucoma, optic neuritis, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, toxic maculopathy and age-related lens changes.
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Occupational colour vision testing may be needed for aviation personnel, Australian Defence Force applicants and serving members, electricians and trades, healthcare workers, police and emergency services, and printing or graphic design roles where accurate colour matching is important.
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Yes. For Eyes Optometrist provides CASA aviation colour vision assessments, including administration of the FALANT Lantern Test. The principal optometrist is CASA-certified and authorised to conduct aviation colour vision assessments for applicants applying for or renewing an aviation medical, or those referred by a CASA Designated Aviation Medical Examiner.
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Yes. Acquired colour vision deficiency can develop due to conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and optic neuritis. Certain medications may also affect colour perception.
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Yes. Ageing can contribute to acquired colour vision changes. Age-related lens yellowing can also affect colour perception and may create a pseudo-tritan pattern on desaturated colour vision testing, so results need to be interpreted carefully.
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Yes. If you are unsure whether your role, study pathway, licence or health concern requires a specific colour vision test, For Eyes Optometrist can advise you at your appointment.