What causes changes in color vision?

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Last updated: February 17, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

Changes in color vision are primarily caused by damage to the photoreceptors in the retina, which can be a result of various factors, including certain medications such as hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine 1.

Key Factors

  • Medications: Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause toxicity to the retina, leading to damage to the photoreceptors and subsequent changes in color vision 1.
  • Retinal damage: Damage to the inner and outer retina, as well as the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), can also contribute to changes in color vision 1.
  • Diseases: Certain diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), can cause progressive deterioration of the retina and lead to changes in color vision 1.
  • Vascular occlusions: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) can also cause sudden and painless monocular loss of visual acuity and peripheral vision, including impaired color vision 1.

Important Considerations

  • Visual acuity: Impaired color vision is often proportional to visual acuity, with more severe visual loss resulting in greater impairment of color vision 1.
  • Medication toxicity: The risk of medication toxicity, such as that caused by hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, can be mitigated with regular screening and monitoring 1.

From the Research

Causes of Changes in Color Vision

There are no research papers to assist in answering this question, as the provided studies focus on colorectal cancer treatment and do not address color vision.

  • The studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 discuss various treatments for colorectal cancer, including chemotherapy, ferroptosis, aflibercept, and immunotherapy, but do not mention color vision.
  • None of the studies provide information on the causes of changes in color vision, suggesting that a different set of research papers would be needed to answer this question.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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