Cumberland et al. (BMJ 2004;329:1074-1075) comment on the lack of
evidence that congenital colour vision defects (CVDs) restrict children's
educational performance. Each year we are told of those first-year medical
students with CVD on the grounds that their learning histology might be
hampered. No such student has ever reported difficulty with projected 35mm
slides or at the microscope with a slide set. However, red-deficient
students sometimes are the first to remind one to replace the batteries in
the laser pointer. It would be interesting to hear from histopathologists,
retired or active, who have a CVD.
In two respects the 'increasing use of colour in education' may not
disadvantage learners with CVD. Having made thousands of diagrammatic
histology PowerPoints in distinctive colours http://wberesford.hsc.wvu.edu
, I find students with normal vision graciously handicap themselves by
learning only from 6/page black-&-white printouts. Secondly, the
figures in current anatomy and histology textbooks now frequently lapse
into anaemic pastel.
Rapid Response:
Colour vision deficiency and histology
The Editor,
British Medical Journal
Dear Sir,
Cumberland et al. (BMJ 2004;329:1074-1075) comment on the lack of
evidence that congenital colour vision defects (CVDs) restrict children's
educational performance. Each year we are told of those first-year medical
students with CVD on the grounds that their learning histology might be
hampered. No such student has ever reported difficulty with projected 35mm
slides or at the microscope with a slide set. However, red-deficient
students sometimes are the first to remind one to replace the batteries in
the laser pointer. It would be interesting to hear from histopathologists,
retired or active, who have a CVD.
In two respects the 'increasing use of colour in education' may not
disadvantage learners with CVD. Having made thousands of diagrammatic
histology PowerPoints in distinctive colours http://wberesford.hsc.wvu.edu
, I find students with normal vision graciously handicap themselves by
learning only from 6/page black-&-white printouts. Secondly, the
figures in current anatomy and histology textbooks now frequently lapse
into anaemic pastel.
Yours truly,
William A Beresford MA, DPhil
Professor of Anatomy
West Virginia University
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests