Download PDF
Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2025; 242(04): 481-484
DOI: 10.1055/a-2479-9147
Klinische Studie

Prevalence of Ishihara Test Failures in a Large Cohort of Military Conscripts

Prävalenz der Farbsinnschwäche in einer großen Schweizer Militärkohorte
Veit Sturm
1   Ophthalmology Centre, Augenzentrum am Rosengarten, Arbon, Switzerland
2   Department of Ophthalmology (Chairman Prof. Valmaggia), Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland
,
Gregor Jaggi
2   Department of Ophthalmology (Chairman Prof. Valmaggia), Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland
3   Department of Ophthalmology, (Chairman Prof. Barthelmes), University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
Margarita G. Todorova
2   Department of Ophthalmology (Chairman Prof. Valmaggia), Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland
3   Department of Ophthalmology, (Chairman Prof. Barthelmes), University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
Jürg Messerli
4   Department of Ophthalmology (Chairman Prof. Feltgen), University of Basel, Switzerland
,
Claudia Zawinka
1   Ophthalmology Centre, Augenzentrum am Rosengarten, Arbon, Switzerland
,
Leila Sara Eppenberger 
2   Department of Ophthalmology (Chairman Prof. Valmaggia), Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Switzerland
5   Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Purpose Color vision deficiency (CVD) is a common vision disorder. It is predominantly caused by inherited photopigment abnormalities in the retina. The absolute number of cases with CVD is expected to increase worldwide with the growing population.

Methods Data from male military conscripts for the recruitment period of 2008 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Year of recruitment, conscriptsʼ birth year, visual acuity, refractive status (spherical equivalent), and color vision status (normal Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates test yes/no) were available.

Results The dataset comprised data on a total of 355 657 male conscripts who had undergone recruitment between the years 2008 to 2017. The mean number of conscripts per year was 35 566 (MD = 35 440, SD = 1 249), reaching a minimum count of 33 998 conscripts in 2017 and a maximum of 37 594 in 2011. The mean age at recruitment was 19.7 years (MD = 19.0 y, SD = 1.1 y). Among the conscripts, 337 422 (94.9%) successfully passed the Ishihara test, while 18 235 (5.1%) were found to have CVD.

Conclusion The overall prevalence of CVD in our male cohort was 5.1%. This figure is slightly lower than that reported for a European Caucasian population.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Die Farbsehschwäche ist eine häufige Sehstörung. Hauptursache stellen erbliche Abnormalitäten der retinalen Photopigmente dar. Mit dem weiteren Wachstum der Weltbevölkerung wird auch eine Zunahme Betroffener mit Farbsehschwäche erwartet.

Methoden Die Daten männlicher Wehrpflichtiger der Rekrutierungsjahrgänge 2008 bis 2017 wurden retrospektiv analysiert. Das Jahr der Rekrutierung, Geburtsjahr der Militäranwärter, Visus, Refraktion (sphärisches Äquivalent) und Farbsehtüchtigkeit (Pseudoisochromatische Ishihara-Tafeln ja/nein) wurden erhoben.

Ergebnisse Das Datenset beinhaltete Angaben von 355 567 männlichen Wehrpflichtigen der Rekrutierungsjahre 2008 bis 2017. Die mittlere Anzahl der Militäranwärter pro Jahr betrug 35 566 (MD = 35 440, SD = 1249) mit einem Minimum von 33 998 Militäranwärtern im Jahr 2017 und einem Maximum von 37 594 Rekruten 2011. Das mittlere Alter der Wehrpflichtigen zum Rekrutierungstermin betrug 19.7 Jahre (MD = 19,0 y, SD = 1,1 y). 337 422 (94,9%) der Wehrpflichtigen bestanden den Ishihara Farbsehtest, während bei 18 235 (5,1%) Wehrpflichtigen eine Farbsehschwäche gefunden wurde.

Schlussfolgerung Die Prävalenz der Farbsehschwäche in unserer männlichen Kohorte betrug 5,1%. Diese Schätzung liegt leicht unter der bislang für die europäische kaukasische Bevölkerung beschriebenen Häufigkeit.

Keywords

Europe - color vision deficiency - military conscripts - Swiss military

Schlüsselwörter

Europa - Farbsehschwäche - Wehrpflichtige - Schweizer Militär


Publication History

Received: 26 October 2024

Accepted: 19 November 2024

Article published online:
27 January 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

  • References

  • 1 Neitz J, Neitz M. The genetics of normal and defective color vision. Vision Res 2011; 51: 633-651
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 Hashemi H, Shahidi A, Hashemi A. et al. The prevalence of red-green color vision deficiency and its related factors in an elderly population above 60 years of age. Int J Ophthalmol 2023; 16: 1535-1541
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 3 Mashige KP, van Staden DB. Prevalence of congenital colour vision deficiency among Black school children in Durban, South Africa. BMC Res Notes 2019; 12: 324
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 4 Simunovic MP. Colour vision deficiency. Eye (Lond) 2010; 24: 747-755
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 5 Ahsana SH, Hussain R, Fareed M, Afzal M. Prevalence of Red-Green Color Vision Defects among Muslim Males and Females of Manipur, India. Iran J Public Health 2013; 42: 16-24
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 6 Crone RA. Incidence of known and unknown colour vision defects. A study of 6526 secondary school pupils in Amsterdam. Ophthalmologica 1968; 155: 37-55
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 7 Birch J. Worldwide prevalence of red-green color deficiency. J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis 2012; 29: 313-320
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 8 Rajavi Z, Sabbaghi H, Baghini AS. et al. Prevalence of Color Vision Deficiency and its Correlation with Amblyopia and Refractive Errors among Primary School Children. J Ophthalmic Vis Res 2015; 10: 130-138
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 9 Eppenberger LS, Jaggi GP, Todorova M. et al. Following prevalence of myopia in a large Swiss military cohort over the last decade: where is the European “myopia boom”?. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2024; 262: 1-8
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 10 Ramachandran N, Wilson GA, Wilson N. Is screening for congenital colour vision deficiency in school students worthwhile? A review. Clin Exp Optom 2014; 97: 499-506
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 11 Cole BL. Assessment of inherited colour vision defects in clinical practice. Clin Exp Optom 2007; 90: 157-175
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 12 Cumberland P, Rahi JS, Peckham CS. Impact of congenital colour vision defects on occupation. Arch Dis Child 2005; 90: 906-908
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 13 Citirik M, Acaroglu G, Batman C. et al. Congenital color blindness in young Turkish men. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2005; 12: 133-137
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 14 Krishnamurthy SS, Rangavittal S, Chandrasekar A. et al. Prevalence of color vision deficiency among school-going boys in South India. Indian J Ophthalmol 2021; 69: 2021-2025
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 15 Delpero WT, OʼNeill H, Casson E. et al. Aviation-relevant epidemiology of color vision deficiency. Aviat Space Environ Med 2005; 76: 127-133
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 16 von Planta. Die Häufigkeit der angeborenen Farbsinnstörungen bei Knaben und Mädchen und ihre Feststellung durch die üblichen klinischen Proben. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1928; 120: 313-323
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 17 Weiland M. Untersuchungen über Farbsinnschwäche bei Konduktorinnen. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1933; 130: 444-462
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 18 Koliopoulos P, Iordanides P, Palimeris G. et al. Data concerning colour vision deficiencies among 29,985 young Greeks. Mod Probl Ophthalmol 1976; 17: 161-164
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 19 Ahmad TA, Chai SL. Colour vision in the Singapore male. Sing Med J 1980; 21: 639-642
    Search in Google Scholar