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Original poster

Do colour blindness glasses actually work?

29 replies

Twoforthree · 04/03/2021 22:47

I'm looking at the pilestone glasses that are supposed to let me see colours the way most people do. At £99 it's not a cheap experiment, so I'd love to know if anyone has ever tried them and is it worth buying them?

OP posts:
Original poster
Twoforthree · 05/03/2021 09:12

Anyone?

OP posts:
backonthescene · 05/03/2021 09:18

The videos on YouTube of people receiving them are amazing. Warning, you’ll need tissues!!

Original poster
Twoforthree · 05/03/2021 10:56

Ah thanks. I'll watch some. Thanks.

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Aunthe · 05/03/2021 14:44

Hi OP, yes DH has some. Are they for you? Have you been through the basic tests on their websites as there are different types of lens for different types of colour blindness and then the severity of the type.

The first time DH tested the result was that his colour blindness was too extreme and glasses wouldn't help. That was three years ago and improvements have been made, technology developed etc.

He tested again last autumn and so he got some for Christmas. The result are fabulous BUT it's not quite how things seem on the YouTube videos. The company even warn about this. Yes, DH saw difference straight away but it takes a bit of time for your brain to adjust.

Well worth it though but make sure you have the correct types.

Aunthe · 05/03/2021 14:47

Our son has red hair as does DH, he 'knew' this as he'd been told but never seen it before. But he kept appreciating DS hair over a few days as he got used to it more.

Very interesting response to some of the clothes he now really saw that he and others wore, from horror to hilarious. That was really funny Grin

Original poster
Twoforthree · 05/03/2021 21:02

Thanks for replying. The reviews say they work better for some than others. Just wanted the mumsnet wisdom.

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Original poster
Twoforthree · 05/03/2021 21:04

The first time I did the test it came up as moderate. I repeated it, and half guessed a few and it came up as mild. Result was deutan so I was going to go for type A glasses.

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Original poster
Twoforthree · 05/03/2021 21:06

Funny about the clothes 😂 Must have really made a difference then.

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Original poster
Twoforthree · 05/03/2021 21:08

Does he wear them all the time? If it takes time for the brain to adjust, can you chop and change wearing them or not?

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Aunthe · 06/03/2021 08:44

No, he doesn't wear them all the time. He does take them out when going for a walk, out and about etc.

I did ask him why he didn't wear them always as I thought if it was me I'm sure I'd want to. DH explained that it was just knowing that he had them, knowing he can use them if he wants, is enough.

He did have headaches when he first got them though as he wore them a lot. So he is careful as he thinks if he over does it , like for hours at a time, he gets a bit of a headache. He can chop and change though

He will not wear them driving, he said that was awful, too much of a distraction I think. I meant to ask him last night what type of colour blindness he had, sorry, he's just gone out. Will check when he gets back.

The clothes thing was hilarious. He has several things that we are all 'whoa...no' but he wouldn't believe us. A pair of chinos that he thought charcoal grey were in fact bright jade green and truly awful. But we love him so just let him crack on. He wore them on boxing day and already had them on when he put the glasses on. His reaction was one of the highlights of our 25 years together Grin

Aunthe · 06/03/2021 08:48

The company I bought them from does have an excellent returns policy btw if you have chosen wrong type or not quite right. They know it's a bit of a risk buying online so will swap and change or full refund. There is a grace period a week or two weeks I think.

Original poster
Twoforthree · 06/03/2021 12:55

Thanks. You've been really helpful. The clothes story is so funny. Bright green 😀

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RandomMess · 06/03/2021 13:12

I'd so like to buy some for DD she is blue green colour blind.

Pippapotomus · 06/03/2021 13:29

I don’t think they’re quite as magical as many of the tear jerking videos make them seem. Someone at work got a pair as a secret Santa one year, he had already tried some and knew they didn’t work for him. But because he had a dozen cameras filming him (all probably hoping their video goes viral) he had to fake it. He is a surprisingly good actor, but then drunk too much at the Xmas party and let slip.

Original poster
Twoforthree · 06/03/2021 17:50

That's what I'm worried about.

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underneaththeash · 06/03/2021 18:02

They work well for most people for a bit, colourblindness is a spectrum of disability, so are affected a lot and some just a little although true colour blindness (where you only see grey) is very rare and people affected are often classified partially sighted or blind.

The glasses basically just change the colour of things so that the wavelength of light is shifted into a range that is more visible by people with colourblindness. So they can appreciate the difference more. There was also a contact lens out for a while.

HasaDigaEebowai · 06/03/2021 18:13

Ds2 is severely colour blind and they do make a difference for him but all they actually seem to do if you don’t have colourblindness is put a red tinge over everything. So they would obviously make a difference of sorts.

HeronLanyon · 06/03/2021 18:19

Well if they don’t all of those amazing you tube videos of people seeing colour for the first time are going to rob me of small amount of credulity left !
Good luck op.

underneaththeash · 06/03/2021 21:15

@HeronLanyon
As I said they do sort of. So say you can’t see things which have a wavelength of 1-2 you then put a filter over moves the wavelengths you don’t usually see to a 3-4, you’ll suddenly see a bigger range of colours and it will be amazing.
(Disclaimer; I’ve simplified the wavelengths)

HasaDigaEebowai · 06/03/2021 21:55

DS2 didn’t have an amazing reaction. I think those videos are mainly staged.

Original poster
Twoforthree · 06/03/2021 22:11

Would you say they are worth trying though?

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HeronLanyon · 07/03/2021 07:10

underneath interesting. Ta!

HeronLanyon · 07/03/2021 07:12

Have broken printer and found myself wondering what would happen if I put black cartridge (black just won’t print) into the yellow space and whether the chip would reject it completely. Not so different !
That experiment will wait until my current printing everything in blue has come to an end. Fascinating how much black is in red etc.

Alonelonelyloner · 07/03/2021 07:22

Oh my DP has severe colourblindness and only sees shades of grey. I wish something like this would work for him. He can also hardly see at all so I am not sure how it would work even if he could. Would he wear them over his normal glasses? He can't not wear his glasses

Afonavon · 07/03/2021 07:24

@Pippapotomus

I don’t think they’re quite as magical as many of the tear jerking videos make them seem. Someone at work got a pair as a secret Santa one year, he had already tried some and knew they didn’t work for him. But because he had a dozen cameras filming him (all probably hoping their video goes viral) he had to fake it. He is a surprisingly good actor, but then drunk too much at the Xmas party and let slip.
Urgh, poor bugger! I am getting a knot in my stomach imagining being in his position. Like reacting to a shit Christmas present you’ve previously found in your Mum’s wardrobe, but worse as the reaction is being filmed and expected to be entertaining.