Yes, people can be 100% color blind, experiencing a condition called monochromacy (also known as achromatopsia). This is different from the more common forms of color blindness, which are usually color deficiencies rather than a complete absence of color perception.
Understanding Complete Color Blindness
In complete color blindness, individuals see only shades of gray, from black to white. Their visual experience is similar to watching the world on an old black and white television. This is because they lack functional cone cells in their eyes, which are responsible for color vision. Their world is devoid of color; if someone says "that car is blue," they only perceive "that's a car."
Types and Prevalence
While complete color blindness is rare, it's crucial to distinguish it from other forms of color vision deficiency. Most individuals with color vision problems have some degree of color perception, although it might be impaired. They might struggle to distinguish certain colors, but they don't see the world exclusively in grayscale.
The provided text mentions that anomalous trichromats have "faulty" trichromatic vision, meaning they are color blind to some extent. This highlights that "color blindness" exists on a spectrum, with complete color blindness at one extreme.
The statement that "99% of all colorblind people are not actually color blind. Rather, they are color deficient" further emphasizes this distinction. The vast majority of people considered "color blind" experience some degree of color perception.
Implications
Complete color blindness can significantly impact daily life. Tasks such as choosing clothing, identifying traffic signals, and interpreting certain visual information become challenging. However, individuals adapt and develop compensatory strategies to navigate the world.
