Do X-Chrome Contact Lenses Help in the Management of Colour Vision Deficiency: A Review

Abstract

Aim: To assess the Prevalence of Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD) and X-Chrome Contact Lenses help in the management of CVD? Background: Colour Vision Deficiency (CVD) affects Colour perception, commonly red-green, which impacts daily life and career opportunities. This review evaluates the role of soft X-chrome contact lenses in enhancing colour discrimination for individuals with congenital CVD. These lenses are worn in one eye, which creates retinal rivalry and improves contrast between colour. Previous studies reported improved test performance. Methodology: This review was conducted after collecting, evaluating, and synthesizing existing articles easily available on search engines (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science). A comprehensive literature search was carried out using an electronic database. The search included studies published till July 2025, with the English language initially applied. Keywords (X-chrome contact lens, Colour Vision deficiency) were also used for searching available articles. Boolean operators (and, or, not) were employed to refine search results. Results: Brich J et al reported, Globally there were 8% of males and 0.4% of females are diagnosed with CVD, as a result of either alterations or absence in the absorption spectrum of Photopigment (Birch, 2012). Shah A, Hussain R et al have reported in 2013, Eastern India, that 8.73% of males and 1.69% of females as colour blind (Shah et al., 2013). As per M. Fareed et. al average prevalence of CVD in Jammu State of India was 7.52% observed in males and 0.83% in females. Similarly, the frequency of red-green colour blindness among males of Libya is 2.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.9%, Nepal 3.9%, Singapore 5.3%, Thailand 5.6%, Korea 5.9%, Turkey 7.3%, Iran 8.1%, Jordan 8.7%, and Eastern India 8.73% was found to be higher than that among female (Fareed et al., 2015). In 2020 Kundu, et. al found that the prevalence of CVD in India was in Males i.e., 3.89% and in Females, 0.18% (Kundu and Chakma, 2020). Conclusion: Prevalence of CVD vary region-wise. X-Chrome lenses are not curative, but they offer valuable support in distinguishing colors was investigated in this narrative review.