How do practitioners assess color vision in patients?

Practitioners assess color vision in patients primarily using Ishihara plates, which are specifically designed for this purpose. The Ishihara test consists of a series of plates that contain dots of various colors arranged in specific patterns to reveal numbers or shapes. Individuals with normal color vision can easily identify the figures, while those with color vision deficiencies may struggle or be unable to see the numbers. This method effectively differentiates between various types of color blindness and helps in diagnosing the extent of the impairment.

Other methods mentioned, such as standard eye charts or contrast sensitivity tests, are used for different aspects of visual assessment, such as overall visual acuity and ability to distinguish between shades of gray, but they do not effectively evaluate color perception. Color filters can also be used in specific assessments but are not standard for diagnosing color vision deficiencies, making Ishihara plates the optimal choice for color vision assessment.