Gaurav Khanna, the beloved actor known for Anupamaa, has made a striking entry into Bigg Boss 19 with a charm along with a heartfelt confession: he is color blind and traffic lights have always been a very big struggle for him.
His candid remark has sparked empathy from his fans and fellow contestants alike. This has also led to a bigger and broader conversation around color vision deficiency.
What is color blindness?
Color blindness, or more accurately known as color vision deficiency (CVD), is a condition where a person cannot distinguish certain colors, typically green and red and sometimes blue and yellow are also affected. In most cases this issue is inherited and is a result of malfunctioning cone cells in the retina. This results in the disruption of how the eye processes color-encoded light. True monochromacy (seeing only in shades of gray) also does exist but it is rare.
Why it matters
For Gaurav Khanna, the challenge of interpreting or understanding traffic signals isn’t just an anecdote curated in fun, it underscores how ordinary life tasks can become confusing for those who have CVD. Traffic lights rely on color sequencing and for someone who has red-green deficiency, recognising these cues can become habit-driven rather than visually instinctive.
Coping strategies for CVD
While there exists no cure for inherited color deficiency, there are various strategies and tools that help individuals adapt to the daily ups and downs. These are:
- Learn the sequence: For the vertical traffic lights, you can memorize that the red is always on top, followed by yellow in the middle and green at the bottom. This helps circumvent color confusion.
- Use technology: Smartphone apps and specialized filters can help distinguish colors more accurately.
- Label and organize: People often label clothing or household items to match colors correctly.
- Special lenses: While a cure is not possible, some colored filters or contact lenses help in enhancing the contrast for better color differentiation.