Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2020 Nov;98(7):726-735.
doi: 10.1111/aos.14450. Epub 2020 May 8.

Colour vision classification - comparing CAD and CIE 143:2001 International recommendations for colour vision requirements in transport

Vilhelm F Koefoed  1 , Tyler Miles  2 , John B Cason  2 , Ray Troche  2
Affiliations
Free article
Comparative Study

Colour vision classification - comparing CAD and CIE 143:2001 International recommendations for colour vision requirements in transport

Vilhelm F Koefoed et al. Acta Ophthalmol. 2020 Nov.
Free article

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the colour vision severity classification standard 'CIE 143:2001 International recommendations for colour vision requirements in transport' (CIE 143:2001), which has become out of date because of the lack of commercial availability of required colour vision tests.

Methods: One-hundred-five subjects had colour vision tested and colour vision severity classified according to a modified CIE 143:2001 algorithm that included pseudoisochromatic plates (Ishihara's test and Hardy Rand Rittler (HRR) 4th edition), Optec 900 lantern and Farnsworth D-15. Subject's results and colour vision severity classification were compared to performance and colour vision severity classification on the computerized 'Colour Assessment and Diagnosis' (CAD) test.

Results: According to CIE 143:2001, using Ishihara's test, Optec lantern and Farnsworth D 15, 11 subjects (10%) were category I (normal), 16 (15%) were category II (mild), 48 (46%) were category III (poor), and 30 (29%) were category IV (severe). Classified by CAD score, 10 (10%) were category I, 11 (10%) were category II, 41 (39%) were category III, and 43 (41%) were category IV. The correlation between the two estimates of the severity of colour vision loss (i.e. CIE 143:2001 and CAD) was high, with a Kendall's Tau test of 0.81 (τ = 0.81 p < 0.001). A suggested CIE 143:2001 classification including new CAD score limits improves the classification correlation to 0.90 (τ = 0.90 p < 0.001) for all diagnoses.

Conclusion: The colour vision severity classification standard 'CIE 143:2001 International recommendations for colour vision requirements in transport', has not implemented new diagnostic tools with better accuracy. We propose three possible revisions to the CIE 143:2001 algorithm, based on the availability of CAD: (1) Replacing the current CIE 143:2001 algorithm using new CAD threshold limits, (2) Use of CAD as a secondary test to Ishihara's test and HRR or (3) Revising the current CIE 143:2001 algorithm using Ishihara's test, HRR, Optec 900 and FD15.

Keywords: CAD; CIE 143:2001; colour vision classification; colour vision deficiency; severity.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). (2014): Guidance: The approved doctor's manual. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-approved-doctors-manual.
    1. Bailey JE, Neitz M, Tait DM & Neitz J (2004): Evaluation of an updated HRR color vision test. Vis Neurosci 21: 431-6.
    1. Bailey KGH & Carter T (2016): Consistency of secondary colour vision tests in transport industries. Occup Med (Lond) 66: 268-75.
    1. Baratloo A, Hosseini M, Negida A & El Ashal G (2015): Part 1: simple definition and calculation of accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. Emergency (Tehran, Iran) 3: 48-9.
    1. Barbur JL & Rodriguez-Carmona M (2017): Colour vision requirements in visually demanding occupations. Br Med Bull 122: 51-77.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources