Let me save you some scrolling: color blind glasses don't "cure" color blindness. They use optical filters to shift wavelengths so certain colors become easier to tell apart. For some people they're genuinely helpful. For others, they're $300 paperweights. The difference depends on your specific CVD type and severity.
You've probably seen the viral videos — someone puts on EnChroma glasses and bursts into tears seeing color "for the first time." Those reactions are real, but they're cherry-picked. We wanted to find out what actually happens for the average person with color vision deficiency. So we researched five different brands, dug through clinical data, and gathered real user feedback to compare them.
How Color Blind Glasses Work
Normal vision relies on three cone types (L, M, S) with distinct sensitivity peaks. In people with anomalous trichromacy, two cone types overlap more than they should — making certain colors harder to distinguish. Color blind glasses use multi-notch filters that block the overlapping wavelengths, effectively pushing the cone responses apart.
This is why they work better for anomalous trichromacy (protanomaly, deuteranomaly) than for dichromacy (protanopia, deuteranopia). If the cone is just shifted, you can filter around it. If the cone is missing entirely, no filter can create it. Try our simulator to see exactly which type you have before buying.
5 Brands Compared
#1 EnChroma
Best for: Deuteranomaly (mild-moderate)
- • Best-known brand with wide frame selection
- • Strong outdoor performance
- • 60-day return policy
- • Prescription lens options (from $599)
- • Expensive
- • Poor indoor/screen performance
- • Doesn't work for severe CVD or tritanopia
- • Overhyped by viral marketing
Solid glasses for outdoor use if you have mild-to-moderate deuteranomaly. Indoor and screen use? Save your money. The viral videos set expectations way too high — most people notice a subtle shift, not a life-changing revelation.
#2 Pilestone
Best for: Red-green CVD (multiple lens types)
- • More affordable than EnChroma
- • Multiple lens types (A, B, C) for different CVD
- • Decent outdoor performance
- • Good starter option
- • Build quality is average
- • Less effective than EnChroma for some users
- • Limited frame styles
- • Prescription available at extra cost
Best value for the price. If you want to try color blind glasses without spending $300+, Pilestone is where I'd start. The Type A lens works best for deuteranomaly, Type B for protanomaly.
#3 VINO Optics
Best for: Strong protan correction & medical use
- • Specialized for protanopia/protanomaly
- • Also used for medical vein-finding
- • Research-backed filter design
- • Subscription option available (~$20/mo)
- • Smaller brand, fewer consumer reviews
- • Limited frame selection
- • Premium pricing
- • Best results in bright lighting
If you have protan-type CVD specifically, VINO is arguably better than EnChroma. Their filters are tuned differently and I've heard from several users who tried EnChroma first, returned them, and preferred VINO.
#4 ColorMax
Best for: Custom-fitted CVD correction
- • Available through optometrists
- • Custom tinting for your specific CVD
- • Professional fitting process
- • Can combine with prescription
- • Requires in-person visit
- • Not available everywhere
- • Mid-range pricing
- • Fewer online reviews
The optometrist route. If you want something tailored to your exact CVD profile rather than a one-size-fits-all filter, ColorMax is the way to go. More hassle to get, but potentially better results.
#5 Amazon Budget Options
Best for: Curiosity / gift
- • Very cheap
- • Quick delivery
- • Low risk to try
- • Some may help with mild CVD
- • Inconsistent quality
- • Often just tinted red lenses
- • No proven CVD science behind most
- • Results vary widely
You get what you pay for. I've tested a dozen of these — maybe 2 out of 12 made any real difference. If you just want to see if the concept appeals to you before investing in a real pair, fine. Otherwise skip.
Before You Buy: 4 Things to Check
1. Know Your CVD Type
Take an Ishihara test and use a simulator. Glasses are designed for specific types — buying wrong = wasting money.
2. Check Return Policy
Results vary person to person. Always buy from brands with 30-60 day returns. EnChroma and Pilestone both offer this.
3. Indoor vs Outdoor
Most glasses work best in bright natural light. If you mainly need help with screens, consider software tools like RGBlind instead.
4. Manage Expectations
You won't suddenly "see color." You'll distinguish shades you couldn't before. That's useful — but it's not the tearful experience viral videos promise.
Common Questions
Do color blind glasses work for everyone?
No. They work best for anomalous trichromats (deuteranomaly, protanomaly). If you have dichromacy (missing cones entirely) or tritanopia, current glasses won't help much.
Can I pass a color blind test with these glasses?
Usually no. Most occupational color vision tests (Ishihara, Farnsworth) are designed to detect any color aid. The glasses help daily life, not test-passing.
Are EnChroma glasses worth $300+?
For outdoor use with mild-moderate deuteranomaly? Probably yes, especially with their return policy. For severe CVD or indoor use? Try Pilestone first at $50-90.
What's the best free alternative to glasses?
Software simulators. Tools like RGBlind let you check your designs and environment without spending anything.
Find Your CVD Type First
Before spending $50–$400 on glasses, find out exactly which type of color blindness you have. It takes 30 seconds.