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News & Information

EnChroma Color Blindness Glasses Now Available Through the SCLS

Release Date: August 09, 2022

Contact: Kathy Freisinger

Sussex County Main Library

973 948-3660 ext. 3401

kfreisinger@sussexcountylibrary.org

 

Newton - The Sussex County Library System (SCLS) is pleased to announce the availability of EnChroma color-correcting glasses for borrowers who suspect they may be color-blind.

Color vision deficiency (CVD) effects 8% of men and 0.5% of women, many of whom don’t realize anything is wrong. While people with normal color vision see over 1 million shades of color, the color blind only see an estimated 10% of hues and shades. As a result colors can appear dull and difficult to discern which makes understanding colored information in graphs, charts, presentations, maps, and more very difficult.

The SCLS has acquired 4 pairs of EnChroma color correcting glasses – one pair each of sunglasses and indoor glasses for adults and children. The glasses can be borrowed for up to two weeks at a time, either as a test for the wearer to determine if this type of technology is something that can enhance their life; or for specific events (an important test, a museum trip) where enhanced color vision can have a real impact.

“New Jersey is one of the many states that does not require testing for color-blindness in school,” stated Adult Services Librarian Louisa Bann. “As a result 20% of color blind people don’t even learn they have a deficiency until well into adulthood. In the meantime, the inability to interpret colored charts and maps gets kids identified as slow learners which effects their confidence in all walks of life. Making these glasses available to our borrowers lets them determine if color correction can make a difference.”

EnChroma glasses are not a “cure” for color blindness, and work approximately 80% of the time for those with red-green CVD. Some users see an immediate difference while others can take up to 10 minutes for the brain to adjust. A free color vision test through the EnChroma website (https://enchroma.com/pages/test) can help potential users determine if red-green color correction glasses can help them. A trip to your local SCLS library to check out the glasses and give them a try can help even more.

A free Sussex County Library card is available to anyone living, working or going to school in Sussex County (except Sparta). Apply in person at any SCLS location or online at sussexcountylibrary.org/get-library-card.

 

Bar Chart

This simple bar chart illustrates why a students with CVD might struggle to answer simple questions like “What is represented by the orange bar?”

 

Legging chroma comparison

Leggings

Colorful rainbow leggings look dull and muted to people with CVD who only see an estimated 10% of hues and shades.