Can Women Be Color Blind?
Yes, women can be color blind, but it is much less common than in men. Among people of Northern European ancestry, red-green color blindness affects about 1 in 200 women compared with about 1 in 12 men. The reason is genetic: the genes involved are on the X chromosome.
Last updated 2026-11-09
How many women are color blind?
| Type | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Red-green (Northern European ancestry) | ~1 in 200 (0.5%) | ~1 in 12 (8%) |
| Blue-yellow (inherited) | Fewer than 1 in 10,000; men and women equally | |
Red-green figures from MedlinePlus Genetics and Birch (2012). Rates vary between populations.
Why is color blindness more common in men?
The genes for the red- and green-sensitive cone pigments (OPN1LW and OPN1MW) are on the X chromosome, and red-green color blindness is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern.
- Men have one X chromosome. If it carries the change, they are color blind.
- Women have two X chromosomes. They usually need the change on both to be color blind. With one changed copy they are usually carriers with typical color vision, because the other copy works.
If a red-green variant is carried by about 8% of X chromosomes, the chance of a woman having it on both is roughly 0.08 × 0.08 ≈ 0.6%. That simple estimate is close to the 0.4–0.5% actually seen.
Is color blindness inherited from the mother or father?
It can come from either side, but it follows the X chromosome. Fathers pass their X only to daughters, never to sons; mothers pass one of their two X chromosomes to every child. The most common patterns for red-green color blindness:
Color blind father + mother with typical genes
- Sons: Typical color vision (they get their X from their mother)
- Daughters: All carriers, usually with typical color vision
Carrier mother + father with typical color vision
- Sons: 1 in 2 chance of being color blind
- Daughters: 1 in 2 chance of being a carrier; not color blind
Carrier mother + color blind father
- Sons: 1 in 2 chance of being color blind
- Daughters: 1 in 2 chance of being color blind, otherwise a carrier
Color blind mother + father with typical color vision
- Sons: Color blind
- Daughters: All carriers, usually with typical color vision
Each pregnancy is independent, and these patterns describe inherited red-green color blindness only. Rare exceptions exist; a genetic counselor can give advice for a specific family.
Color blind carriers and tetrachromacy
Most carriers have typical color vision and don’t know they are carriers. A carrier may have a family history (a color blind father or son) and sometimes performs slightly differently on detailed color tests.
Because some carriers have a fourth, slightly different cone pigment, researchers have looked for “tetrachromat” women who see extra color differences. In one study, only 1 of 24 carriers of deuteranomaly showed four-dimensional color vision on every test (Jordan et al., 2010), so having the genes is not the same as having the ability.
Other ways women can become color blind
- Blue-yellow color blindness (tritanomaly, tritanopia) is not X-linked. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern and affects women and men equally.
- Acquired color vision changes can happen to anyone, for example with certain eye diseases, health problems such as diabetes or multiple sclerosis, or some medicines. A new or changing color problem should be checked by an eye doctor.
Can girls be color blind? Testing children
Yes. Because it is less expected in girls, it may be worth a check if color blindness runs on both sides of a girl’s family, or if she mixes up colors that other children name easily. Our color blind test for kids uses shapes instead of numbers. For adults, the color blind test takes about two minutes. A screening result can only be confirmed by an eye care professional.