Are Currently Available Tests Satisfactory for Color Vision Assessment?

Abstract

PurposeWe aimed to investigate the ophthalmologists’ color vision test usage habits and thoughts on whether it meets the needs of their demands in clinical practice.MethodsA 8‐item questionnaire was applied to ophthalmologists who have interested in color vision tests in daily practice. The questionnaire was applied to the participants through face to face fashion or by mail.ResultsA total of 70 participants (50 male, 20 female) with a mean age of 36.8 years were completed the questionnaire. Mean professional experience of the participants was 9.6 years. Almost all of the participants (97%) were using Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates in daily clinical practice. The Farnsworth‐Munsell 100 hue test was preferred by only 2 (3%) ophthalmologist. However, 84.3% of the participants believe that Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates do not meet their needs at least partially. Seventy four percent of ophthalmologist (n = 52) thought that there is a need for new color vision test providing more detailed data of the subjects.ConclusionsMost of the ophthalmologists still use Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates for color vision assessment in their routine practice. However, they thought that it does not meet their needs and believe that a new computer based color vision test is essential for the detailed examination of the patients with color vision deficiency.