Colorblind fans struggle with watching football games

The NFL is trying out bright color schemes this year as an alternative to the Home Team wearing colors and visitors wearing light-colored uniforms, a vestigial acquiescence to black and white television broadcasts. Dr. Krawitz's favorite home team, the Buffalo Bills, wore bright red uniforms this past Thursday night, while the New York Jets wore bright green. [caption id="attachment_5363" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Photo from the New York Times, November 13, 2015[/caption] The colors were bright and gaudy to most viewers, but not to everyone. Those with color-blindness, which as is found in one in every 12 men, saw the game like this: [caption id="attachment_5362" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Photo from the New York Times, November 14, 2015.[/caption] That's because defective retinal proteins in color blind males result in either deutanopia (deficient green sensing proteins) or protanopia (deficient red sensing proteins). Nike, the company that provided the uniforms, is taking notice. Next time, reds are OK and greens are OK. But not both colors during the same game.*