Color vision test
color blindness test · Ishihara test · color vision check · colour vision test
You are shown pictures made of colored dots with numbers or shapes hidden in them. This checks how well your eyes tell colors apart.
For a work medical exam, a driver's medical certificate, school, or if a person mixes up colors.
⏱ Duration: usually 5 to 10 minutes; results right away
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Glasses. Bring your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them for close-up vision.
- Rest. Come well rested, not after a sleepless night.
What to bring
- Your ID
- Your glasses, if you wear them
- Your referral or medical exam form
How it goes
- You sit in good daylight
- You are shown charts with colored circles
- You say the number or trace the shape
- Usually both eyes are tested together, sometimes each one separately
- The doctor writes down the result
What you'll feel
- It does not hurt
- Some pictures can be hard to see. This is normal. Answer with what you see
Afterwards
- You get the result right away
- If there are changes, the doctor will explain what this means for your work or driver's license
Common questions
Can I memorize the charts?
It is not worth it. There are many charts, and the doctor can tell. An honest result matters.
Can color blindness be treated?
A color vision problem you are born with cannot be treated, but people live normal lives with it.