PREVALENCE OF CONGENITAL COLOR DEFICIENCIES IN SECONDARY-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN TEHRAN

Purpose. A population-based study was conducted to determine the preva lence of color deficiencies in secondary-school students (ages 12-14) in Tehran. Methods. A total of 2058 students (1136 males, 922 females) were examined with Ishihara pseudoisochromatic color plates. Results. In the study population, 97 cases of defective color vision were dete cted, including 93 males and 4 females. The affected individuals all h ad negative histories of previous systemic and ocular disease or chron ic use of medications. The visual acuity was 20/20 and the fundus was normal in all affected students. Of the 93 cases of defective color vi sion in males (8.18%), 56 cases (4.93%) involved deuteranomaly, 13 (1. 14%) protanomaly, 13 (1.14%) deuteranopia, and 11 (0.97%) protanopia. The four cases in females (0.43%) involved deuteranomaly in three case s (0.32%) and protanomaly in 1 case (0.11%). Deuteranopia and protanop ia were not detected in females. Conclusion. This is the first study t o determine the prevalence of congenital color blindness in Iran. The results agree with reports of prevalence of congenital color blindness from Western Europe.