Curious Eye: The Interactive Book That Helps Identify Color Blindness in Kids
Color vision deficiency (CVD), otherwise known as color blindness, can be difficult to catch in kids. Neither schools nor most physicians’..
[August 15, 2021: Ria Malatesta]
Color vision deficiency (CVD), otherwise known as color blindness, can be difficult to catch in kids. Neither schools nor most physicians’ offices screen for CVD, despite it affecting one in 12 males and one in 200 females globally.
To meet the demand for early CVD diagnoses, the Children’s Eye Foundation of AAPOS has introduced the first-ever interactive kids’ book to help screen for color blindness: The Curious Eye. The book helps identify red-green, blue-yellow, and monochrome CVD in kids with an engaging, rhyme-riddled reading adventure and colorful nature illustrations.
The Curious Eye is a 24-page story designed for a first-grade reading level. It’s based on the Ishihara test, which features a series of multicolored dots in the shape of numbers, something that someone with CVD has difficulty seeing. In the book, the dots are instead illustrated in the shape of animals, such as turtles, monkeys, butterflies, and dolphins.
Kids are asked to point out the creatures and see if they’re able to distinguish between reds, oranges, and greens. The book also includes an answer key at the end of the story to help parents determine if they should contact an eye-care professional for a CVD diagnosis.
Parents can download The Curious Eye for free at thecuriouseye.org, where they can also access more information on CVD. They can also use the site’s ophthalmologist locator to find the nearest pediatric ophthalmologist or donate to the Children’s Eye Foundation of AAPOS.
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Note: Materials provided above by Ria Malatesta. Content may be edited for style and length.
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Joseph Shavit
Science News Writer, Editor-At-Large and Publisher
Joseph Shavit, based in Los Angeles, is a seasoned science journalist, editor and co-founder of The Brighter Side of News, where he transforms complex discoveries into clear, engaging stories for general readers. With experience at major media groups like Times Mirror and Tribune, he writes with both authority and curiosity. His work spans astronomy, physics, quantum mechanics, climate change, artificial intelligence, health, and medicine. Known for linking breakthroughs to real-world markets, he highlights how research transitions into products and industries that shape daily life.