The spectral sensitivity characteristics of congenital red-green color vision deficiencies

Abstract

The spectral sensitivity in congenital red-green color vision deficiencies was measured using intense 430 nm and 700 nm backgrounds. In protanopia and protanomaly, the spectral sensitivity curves in the middle and long wavelength regions on both backgrounds coincided with the spectral sensitivities of the middle-wavelength (M) cones. In deuteranopia and six out of the nine observes with deuteranomaly, the spectral sensitivity curves in the middle and long wavelength regions on both backgrounds coincided with the spectral sensitivities of the long-wavelength (L) cones. Three of the nine observers with deuteranomaly showed spectral sensitivity curves in the middle and long wavelength regions that showed slight but significant differences on the 430 nm background as compared to the 700 nm background.

As a result, it is felt that protanomalous subjects have abnormal pigment whose spectral characteristics are similar to those of M cones, while some of the deuteranomalous subjects have abnormal pigment whose spectral characteristics are different from those of L cones.