Color Blindness Test (Ishihara Vision Screening)
Check your color perception with this color blindness test. Complete this standard color vision test using authentic Ishihara test style plates.
Screening Options
About This Assessment
Scores indicate whether your responses align with standard trichromatic vision, protanopia (red-weakness), deuteranopia (green-weakness), or tritanopia.
Identify the number or shape embedded inside each pseudoisochromatic circle. Enter your answer using the keypad or option buttons. Take the test in a well-lit room with neutral brightness.
How Color Vision Works & What Ishihara Plates Test
Color vision allows us to see the world in full, vibrant color. Color blindness means having trouble telling certain colors apart—most commonly reds, greens, and browns. Here is how this test works and what your score means.
How Your Eyes See Color and Why Plates Work
Inside your eyes are tiny sensor cells called cones that detect red, green, and blue light. If some of these cells do not work properly, colors like red, green, and brown can look very similar or blend together.
Ishihara plates are circles filled with colored dots containing hidden numbers. If you have standard color vision, the number stands out immediately. If you have trouble seeing red or green shades, the number blends into the background. To test other visual and brain skills, try our Memory Test or check your reading pace on our Reading Speed Test.
Score Benchmarks & Performance Levels
| Skill Level | Score Range | Speed / Pace | Accuracy | Who Fits This Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Color Vision | 10 / 10 Plates | 100% Accuracy | Normal | Full color perception. You easily distinguish all standard color shades. |
| Likely Normal | 8 - 9 / 10 Plates | 80% - 90% | Normal / Trace | Good color vision. One or two misses are usually caused by screen glare or warm display colors. |
| Mild / Moderate Color Shift | 5 - 7 / 10 Plates | 50% - 70% | Deficient | Mild red-green color shift. Some shades of green, red, or brown may look very similar. |
| Strong Color Deficiency | < 5 / 10 Plates | < 50% | Significant | Strong red-green color deficiency. An optometrist or eye doctor can provide an official exam. |
Simple Tips to Improve Your Score
Turn Off Night Mode Filters
Turn off Night Shift, True Tone, or blue-light filters before testing. These make your screen yellow-orange and can distort test colors.
Turn Up Screen Brightness
Set your screen brightness to 80% to 100% so you can clearly see the contrast between dots.
Avoid Glare and Direct Sun
Test in a room with soft, normal lighting. Bright sunlight shining directly on the glass can wash out the colors.
Look Straight at the Screen
Looking at your screen from an angle can shift display colors. Hold your phone or sit straight about arm's length away.
Recommended Next Tests
Try these related tests to challenge other cognitive and reflex skills:
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers about how tests work, scoring accuracy, and tips to improve.
Does this online test give an official medical diagnosis?
No. This tool is a convenient screening test. Official medical certifications (for pilots, electricians, or ship captains) require an in-person test with calibrated physical plates administered by an eye doctor.
Why is red-green color blindness more common in men?
The genes for seeing red and green are on the X chromosome. Men have one X chromosome, so if that gene is altered, they have color blindness. Women have two X chromosomes, which protects them unless both carry the change.
What is the difference between Deuteranopia and Protanopia?
Both are types of red-green color blindness. Deuteranopia is green-weakness (trouble with green shades), while Protanopia is red-weakness (trouble with red shades, making reds look darker or brownish).
Can color blindness be cured?
Genetic color blindness cannot be cured, but most people live completely normal lives. Special color-enhancing glasses can help distinguish overlapping colors for everyday tasks.