Color Vision Testing, Standards, and Visual Performance of the U.S. Military.

This article focuses on evaluating color vision testing methods and standards used by the U.S. military to screen for color vision deficiency (CVD), a disqualifying condition for special duty occupations. The study compared traditional paper-based pseudoisochromatic plates (PIPs) and the Farnsworth Lantern Test (FALANT) with newer computer-based color vision tests (CVTs), including the Cone Contrast Test (CCT), Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test, and Waggoner Computerized Color Vision Test (WCCVT), in diagnosing and classifying CVD among 191 U.S. Air Force Academy and Naval Aerospace Medical Institute participants. Results showed that CVTs are superior to PIPs in accurately identifying and grading mild CVD, with comparable or slightly different passing rates across tests, while FALANT was less precise and sometimes passed individuals with moderate-to-severe CVD. Additionally, individuals with mild CVD demonstrated slower reaction times in operationally relevant color discrimination tasks, suggesting that military selection criteria should balance safety and accession goals considering specific job demands.