RESUMEN

To help maximize the impact of scientific journal articles, authors must ensure that article figures are accessible to people with color-vision deficiencies (CVDs), which affect up to 8% of males and 0.5% of females. We evaluated images published in biology- and medicine-oriented research articles between 2012 and 2022. Most included at least one color contrast that could be problematic for people with deuteranopia ('deuteranopes'), the most common form of CVD. However, spatial distances and within-image labels frequently mitigated potential problems. Initially, we reviewed 4964 images from eLife, comparing each against a simulated version that approximated how it might appear to deuteranopes. We identified 636 (12.8%) images that we determined would be difficult for deuteranopes to interpret. Our findings suggest that the frequency of this problem has decreased over time and that articles from cell-oriented disciplines were most often problematic. We used machine learning to automate the identification of problematic images. For a hold-out test set from eLife (n=879), a convolutional neural network classified the images with an area under the precision-recall curve of 0.75. The same network classified images from PubMed Central (n=1191) with an area under the precision-recall curve of 0.39. We created a Web application (https://bioapps.byu.edu/colorblind_image_tester); users can upload images, view simulated versions, and obtain predictions. Our findings shed new light on the frequency and nature of scientific images that may be problematic for deuteranopes and motivate additional efforts to increase accessibility.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Background: Color vision deficiency (CVD) is an often-overlooked issue within the medical community, and its consequences remain insufficiently explored. We aim to evaluate how CVD affects diagnostic accuracy and distinguish between malignant choroidal melanoma and benign choroidal nevus among ophthalmologists. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we engaged ophthalmologists through a web-based survey distributed via the professional ophthalmology society's social media channels. The survey encompassed a series of three fundus images representing normal fundus, choroidal nevus, and choroidal melanoma. Each image underwent simulation for the three primary types of CVD-protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia-alongside a non-simulated version. Results: The study included 41 participants, averaging 40 years of age (±9.2), comprising 28 (68%) men and 13 (32%) women. Significantly lower rates of identifying orange pigments were observed in simulated protanopia images compared to non-simulated ones (p = 0.038). In simulated deutranopia images, the recognition of melanotic lesions was notably reduced compared to non-simulated images (p = 0.048). No such limitation was observed for tritanopia. However, participants retained their ability to identify subretinal fluid and estimate tumor thickness in simulated and non-simulated images. Concerning simulated images of choroidal nevi, participants misdiagnosed nevi as choroidal melanoma in 37% of cases in simulated protanopia nevi images and 41% in simulated deutranopia nevi images. This resulted in unnecessary referrals of benign lesions as malignant, emphasizing the potential for mistaken diagnoses. Nevertheless, almost all simulated images of malignant melanoma were correctly referred for specialized oncological treatment. Conclusions: The simulated CVD conditions of protanopia and deuteranopia affected the accuracy of identifying the melanotic nature of the choroidal tumor and the presence of orange pigments. This limitation led to challenges in correctly diagnosing choroidal melanoma and choroidal nevus, resulting in extra referrals for nevus cases. However, participants were safe and could still determine the possible risk of eyes with choroidal melanoma, so most referred melanoma cases to specialized oncologists as needed.

RESUMEN

AIM: To determine the prevalence of red-green (RG) color vision deficiency (CVD) in an elderly population and its related factors. METHODS: This report is a part of the Tehran Geriatric Eye Study: a cross-sectional population-based study that was conducted on the elderly population (≥60y) of Tehran, Iran using multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling. All study participants underwent complete ocular examination, including the measurement of uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity, objective and subjective refraction, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy. The color vision was tested using Ishihara plates with the near optical correction in place. RESULTS: Of the 3791 invitees, 3310 participated in the study. The data of 2164 individuals were analyzed after applying the exclusion criteria. The prevalence of R-G CVD was 3.73% (95%CI: 2.37%-5.09%) in the whole sample; the prevalence of protanomaly, protanopia, and deuteranopia was 1.51%, 1.76%, and 0.45%, respectively. The prevalence of R-G CVD was significantly higher in males than in females. The prevalence of RG CVD increased with advancing age from 2.91% in the age group 60-64y to 5.8% in the age group ≥80y (P=0.070). According to the multiple logistic regression model, male sex, and glaucoma were significantly related to RG CVD. Older age and hypertension also had a marginally significant relationship with RG CVD. CONCLUSION: Changes in color vision occur in the elderly due to the aging process and some physiological and pathological factors. Since the change in visual perception may affect the person's performance, this aspect of the visual system's function should also be taken into consideration in the examinations of the elderly.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Color vision deficiency (CVD) is an under-reported problem among medical personnel, and its impact is still not well characterized. We aim to assess the impact of CVD among ophthalmologists on the accuracy of diagnosing different benign and malignant choroidal lesions. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on ophthalmologists. We used a web-based survey to collect responses through professional ophthalmology society social media. The survey included a set of five images for normal fundus, choroidal nevus, circumscribed choroidal hemangioma, choroidal metastasis, and choroidal melanoma, wherein each image simulated the three main types of CVD: protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia, in addition to a non-simulated image. RESULTS: Forty-one participants were included, with a mean age of 40 (±9.2) years. They were 28 (68%) men and 13 (32%) women. Participants showed significantly low accuracy for definite diagnosis for circumscribed choroidal hemangioma, nevus, melanoma, and metastasis when the images simulated protanopia and deuteranopia, but not tritanopia. Nevertheless, participants maintained the capability to recognize the nature of the lesions for both simulated and non-simulated images if they were benign or malignant, thereby ensuring immediate referral for specialized care. The exception was with simulated choroidal nevi images, wherein participants incorrectly assigned simulated protanopia and deuteranopia nevi images to malignant lesions. CONCLUSION: Protanopia and deuteranopia affected the accuracy of diagnosing several choroidal lesions; however, ophthalmologists with those two simulated CVDs were still able to discriminate between benign and malignant tumors.

RESUMEN

Colour vision is an important aspect of visual function that might help individuals in doing daily activities. Some occupations require and test for good colour discrimination. We describe a case of a 20-year-old man who was referred to our centre to establish if he had colour vision deficiency (CVD). He had been tested for this twice as part of his assessment to enter the police force. At the first examination, he had normal colour vision, while the second examination revealed CVD, thus the patient was referred for confirmation. Colour vision tests using the Ishihara plates showed normal results with each eye, while a Roth test revealed an unspecified CVD in the right eye and deuteranopia in the left eye. During the evaluation, we noticed he was using a red-tinted contact lens in the right eye, and was wearing a red mask with transparent red plastic in the upper part. After removal of the contact lens and mask, he was asked to repeat the examinations and it revealed deuteranopia in both eyes. A tinted contact lens is a corrective device that can help to enhance colour discrimination in CVD subjects. However, in this case the tinted contact lens was used inappropriately to manipulate the colour vision examination. We highlight the case to raise awareness that the use of red contact lenses and red filters can mask CVD.

RESUMEN

G6PD deficiency c563T is the most common inherent blood disease among the Mediterranean populations and its molecular diagnosis is critical as the enzyme assay fails for heterozygous individuals. The purpose of the study is to estimate the ubiquity of the heterozygous G6PD Med (c563T) variants among Egyptians and UAE nationals living in Dubai. We validated two molecular methods, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and qPCR allelic discrimination assay for detection of G6PD Med variants. Among 100 screened individuals, G6PD c563T variants are 30% of whom 15% are carriers. Sanger sequencing validated the qPCR discrimination assays. In search of a phenotypic marker to detect G6PD heterozygous variants, inheritance of G6PD locus and red-green color vision genes is studied in 1 Egyptian and 2 Emirati families. Among the 3 families, G6PD is polymorphic, displaying 4 phenotypes: in phenotype-1, person is normal, in phenotype-2 the person has no G6PD deficiency but with deuteranopia/deuteranomaly, in phenotype-3 the person is G6PD Med variant with deuteranopia/deuteranomaly and in phenotype 4 the person is G6PD Med variant has normal vision. Based on the molecular analysis of G6PD and Ishihara vision test it can be concluded that the two mutations at the two loci arose independent of each other without any interaction (epistatic effect) between them. Following the pedigree analysis of the two genes for 4 generations it is presumed that it is infeasible to use "deuteranopia /deuteranomaly" as a phenotypic marker to detect G6PD c563T heterozygous individuals among the Egyptian populations.

RESUMEN

Colours and emotions are associated in languages and traditions. Some of us may convey sadness by saying feeling blue or by wearing black clothes at funerals. The first example is a conceptual experience of colour and the second example is an immediate perceptual experience of colour. To investigate whether one or the other type of experience more strongly drives colour-emotion associations, we tested 64 congenitally red-green colour-blind men and 66 non-colour-blind men. All participants associated 12 colours, presented as terms or patches, with 20 emotion concepts, and rated intensities of the associated emotions. We found that colour-blind and non-colour-blind men associated similar emotions with colours, irrespective of whether colours were conveyed via terms (r = .82) or patches (r = .80). The colour-emotion associations and the emotion intensities were not modulated by participants' severity of colour blindness. Hinting at some additional, although minor, role of actual colour perception, the consistencies in associations for colour terms and patches were higher in non-colour-blind than colour-blind men. Together, these results suggest that colour-emotion associations in adults do not require immediate perceptual colour experiences, as conceptual experiences are sufficient.

RESUMEN

Deuteranopia is an X-linked congenital dichromatic condition in which single point mutations in green cone opsin lead to defective non-functional cone photoreceptor cells. Green cone opsin belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily and consists of a seven transmembrane helical apoprotein covalently bound to 11-cis-retinal, by means of a protonated Schiff base linkage, in its inactive dark state. Several point mutations in green cone opsin have been reported to cause deuteranopia, but the structural details underlying the molecular mechanisms behind the malfunction of mutated opsins have not been clearly established. Here, deutan N94K and R330Q mutants were studied by introducing these substitutions into the native green cone opsin gene by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant proteins were purified and analyzed using UV-vis spectroscopy and transducin activation assay. We find that the N94K mutant binds the retinal chromophore by means of an unprotonated Schiff base linkage in contrast to previous studies that reported no chromophore regeneration. The other mutant studied, R330Q, showed impaired functionality as measured by its reduced transducin activation ability when compared to wild-type green cone opsin. A double Cys mutant that could form a stabilizing disulfide bond was used in an attempt to address the instability of the green opsin mutants. Our results suggest the presence of key intramolecular networks which may be disrupted in deuteranopia, and these findings could help in finding therapeutic solutions for treating color blindness. Furthermore, our results can also have implications for the study of other visual pigments and other rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptors.

Asunto(s)