Berks libraries will give away special glasses for those with color blindness

Karen Shuey, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read

Sep. 7—The world looks different to people who are color blind.

While people with normal vision see over 1 million shades of color, the color blind only see an estimated 10% of hues and shades. That can create all sorts of challenges.

The color blind may find themselves frustrated trying to do schoolwork that contains colors. Or they may get less enjoyment out of things like visits to museums, parks or gardens.

A local agency is trying to help address those challenges.

To recognize International Color Blindness Awareness Month in September, Berks County Public Libraries will be giving away two pairs of special glasses designed to improve color vision to local patrons who are unable to experience the full spectrum.

The promotion is in partnership with EnChroma, the company that created the glasses that help those with color blindness. The glasses draw on technology developed by scientist Don McPherson who stumbled on the idea while developing eyewear for surgeons who use lasers.

The glasses don't cure color blindness. Instead, they help people who have trouble discriminating between colors filter out certain wavelengths of light and better differentiate between colors.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 1 in 12 males and 1 in 200 females have color vision deficiency. The condition is usually inherited, but can be acquired from injuries and some other causes.

Berks County Public Libraries began offering the special eyewear to patrons in 2021, becoming the first institution in Pennsylvania to provide EnChroma glasses for free to visitors of the system.

"Since their incorporation into the countywide catalog, EnChroma glasses have been borrowed over 80 times by library patrons," said Stephanie Williams, Berks County Public Libraries system administrator.

The inspiration for International Color Blindness Awareness Month is the birthdate of scientist John Dalton for his research on color blindness. Dalton was color blind.

"During International Color Blindness Awareness Month, EnChroma strives to educate employers, accessibility and human resources directors and teachers about color vision deficiency by partnering with other organizations and brands that are committed to accessibility," said Erik Ritchie, CEO of EnChroma. "We applaud the support of the Berks County Public Libraries in this worthy endeavor."

Those interested in receiving one of the two pairs of EnChroma glasses that will be given away must complete a survey at berkslibraries.org/glasses-giveaway.

For those interested in borrowing the glasses from the countywide catalog, a request can be made online at berkslibraries.org.