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Ishihara Color Vision Test Book with Occluder, 24 or 38 Plates
Ishihara Color Vision Test Book with Occluder, 24 or 38 Plates
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Ishihara pseudoisochromatic color vision test book, the world-standard tool for screening congenital red-green color blindness (protanopia, deuteranopia). Accepted by leading ophthalmology, optometry and occupational health authorities for over a century. Includes tests to determine kind and degree of color vision defect. Four special classification plates distinguish protanopia from deuteranopia. Album-format book, easy handling in clinic and occupational health screening. Includes eye occluder for monocular testing. $75 (24 plates) / $79 (38 plates).
Variant Selection
| Variant | Plate Count | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Plates | 24 plates (screening subset) | Occupational health screening, school health, quick clinic screening, sufficient for detect / not-detect binary decision | $75 |
| 38 Plates | 38 plates (full clinical set) | Ophthalmology / optometry clinic, full diagnostic including protanopia vs deuteranopia classification and severity grading | $79 |
Applications
- Ophthalmology and optometry clinic: standard vision workup, congenital defect screening
- Pediatric screening: school-entry and school-age vision screening (essential, many undiagnosed color-blind children)
- Occupational health screening: pilots, mariners, electricians, chemists, railway operators, emergency responders (color-critical jobs)
- Pre-employment vision testing: military, police, transit, safety-critical positions
- DMV / driver's licensing (in some jurisdictions where color vision affects licensing)
- Sports vision testing: visual performance workup for elite athletes
- School nurse offices: routine vision and color screening
- Research and academic studies: color perception research (with adult subjects)
How the Ishihara Test Works
- Pseudoisochromatic plates: colored dot patterns with embedded numerals or paths visible to normal color vision but invisible / different to color-blind viewers
- Number plates: subject reads embedded numeral (e.g. "5" in dot pattern). Normal vision reads correctly; red-green defect misreads or fails
- Path-tracing plates: subject traces winding path across plate. Used for children or non-literate patients
- Classification plates (in 38-plate set): different numerals visible to protanopes vs deuteranopes, allowing specific defect subtype diagnosis
- Testing conditions: natural daylight or 6500K daylight lamp (NOT incandescent or standard LED, color temperature affects perception)
- 75 cm viewing distance, monocular: occluder covers one eye at a time
Best For
- Ophthalmology and optometry clinics (essential diagnostic tool)
- School nurse offices and pediatricians
- Occupational health and industrial medicine
- Military, police and aviation medical exams
- Optometry / ophthalmology teaching (student learning primary color diagnostics)
- Research labs studying color vision and color perception
- International DDP procurement, global vision screening programs
Buying for a School District, Occupational Health, or Eye Clinic?
- Volume pricing on 5+ books (equip multi-school district or multi-lane clinic)
- Net-30 invoicing for verified academic, government and clinic accounts
- SAM.gov / VA compliant for federal and military vision screening
- Bundle with SciMed trial frames, occluders and eye charts, full vision screening kit
- International DDP shipping, global school and occupational health procurement
FAQ
24-plate vs 38-plate: which do I need?
24-plate = screening set (adequate for occupational health, school, quick clinic screening, "does patient have red-green defect: yes/no"). 38-plate = full clinical diagnostic set (includes classification plates to distinguish protanopia from deuteranopia and severity assessment). Ophthalmology / optometry clinic should use 38-plate. School / OccHealth / screening use → 24-plate is sufficient and $4 cheaper.
What lighting is required?
Natural daylight OR 6500K daylight-corrected lamp (illuminating booth or Ishihara-approved daylight source). AVOID standard incandescent (warm tint distorts colors) and standard cool-white LED (spectrum gaps). Correct lighting is CRITICAL for valid test results, inadequate lighting produces false positives and negatives.
Does this test blue-yellow color blindness?
NO. Ishihara detects red-green defect only (protanopia, deuteranopia, the vast majority of congenital color blindness, ~8% of males and 0.5% of females). For blue-yellow (tritanopia, very rare) or acquired color vision defects (retinal disease, optic nerve damage), use Farnsworth D-15 or 100-hue tests.
Can I test children?
Yes, 24-plate has path-tracing plates for non-literate children (trace the winding line). Reliable from age 4-5+ with adequate cooperation. School-age children respond well. Screen ideally at school-entry age (~5-6 years).
User Manual (PDF)
Download the Instructions for Use (PDF)
Browse all manuals by category at scimedstore.com/pages/user-manuals. Need a digital or printed copy, or have a question? Email sales@scimedstore.com.
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