You've seen the videos. Someone opens a gift box, puts on a pair of sleek-looking sunglasses, and suddenly bursts into tears because they're seeing "purple" for the first time. It’s a staple of social media sentimentality. Heartstrings are tugged. Likes pour in. But if you’re actually one of the millions of people living with protan or deutan color vision deficiency, you’re probably wondering if color blind glasses before and after transitions are actually that life-changing or just really good marketing.
The truth is a lot messier than a 30-second TikTok.
Most people think color blindness means seeing the world like a 1940s film noir. It’s not. Total color blindness, or achromatopsia, is incredibly rare. Usually, it’s just a "weakness" in certain light receptors. Your cones—the tiny sensors in your eyes—overlap too much. This causes colors to blend into a muddy, brownish-yellow mess. Color blind glasses try to fix this by physically blocking specific wavelengths of light. They don't "add" color. They filter out the confusion.
How the science of "before and after" actually works
Let’s get technical for a second, but not too boring. Human color vision relies on three types of photopigments in the cones of the retina: red (long-wavelength), green (medium-wavelength), and blue (short-wavelength). In a person with "normal" vision, these peaks are distinct. For someone with red-green color blindness, those red and green peaks overlap.
Imagine two overlapping circles in a Venn diagram. That overlap is the "dead zone" where your brain can't tell if a photon of light is hitting a red cone or a green one.
EnChroma, the company that basically pioneered this industry after a researcher named Don McPherson accidentally discovered the effect while making laser safety goggles, uses something called a "notch filter." This filter is made of special mineral glass or polycarbonate that literally cuts out the light in that overlapping "dead zone." By removing the confusing light, the glasses create a higher contrast between the remaining red and green signals.
What happens "after" you put them on? Your brain suddenly receives two distinct signals instead of one muddy one. It’s not that the glasses are "curing" you. They’re just cleaning up the data your brain has to work with. Honestly, it’s more like high-definition audio for your eyes.
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Why the "before and after" isn't instant for everyone
Those viral videos where people cry instantly? They happen. But they aren't the norm.
Neuroplasticity plays a massive role here. Your brain has spent decades interpreting "muddy brown" as "green." When you put on a pair of EnChroma or Pilestone glasses, your visual cortex has to do some serious recalibration. Experts call this chromatic adaptation. It can take anywhere from 15 minutes to two weeks of consistent wear before your brain goes, "Oh, wait, that is what red looks like."
For many, the first reaction isn't "Wow, a rainbow!" It’s actually "Why is everything so dark and pink?" Because these glasses work by filtering light, they are essentially sunglasses. If you wear them indoors or on a cloudy day, the effect is almost non-existent. You need photons. Lots of them. Bright, direct sunlight is the fuel that makes the color blind glasses before and after comparison pop. Without enough light, the filter just makes the world look dim.
Real world vs. The hype
I’ve talked to people who felt cheated by the marketing. They expected a psychedelic trip and got... slightly more vibrant stop signs.
Take a guy named Mark, a 40-year-old architect with strong deuteranomaly. For him, the "before" was a world where he couldn't distinguish a ripe strawberry from an unripe one without looking at the shape. The "after" wasn't a spiritual awakening. It was just easier to do his job. He could finally see the red lines on a blueprint without squinting. No tears, just utility.
Then there are the limitations. Let's be very clear:
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- They do not work for everyone. If you have "dichromacy" (where one cone type is completely missing), these glasses usually do nothing. There’s no signal to separate.
- They don't help with electronic screens. Most of these glasses are designed for the broad spectrum of natural sunlight. Looking at an iPhone screen often yields zero results because of how LEDs emit light.
- They are expensive. You're looking at $200 to $400 for a pair of glasses that you can only really use outside.
Comparing the big players: EnChroma vs. Pilestone vs. Others
If you're looking into buying these, you'll see two names constantly: EnChroma and Pilestone. They take very different approaches to the "before and after" experience.
EnChroma uses a "multistack" coating. It's sophisticated and targets very specific wavelengths. This is why they are often more expensive. They aim for color accuracy. They want the sky to look blue and the grass to look green, just more so.
Pilestone and some other brands often use a cheaper, tinted approach. Sometimes, these rely more on a heavy reddish or purplish tint to force a contrast. While this can help you pass an Ishihara plate test (those circles with the hidden numbers), it doesn't necessarily mean you're seeing "true" color. It’s more of a hack. Some users prefer this because the change is more dramatic and "instant," even if it’s less scientifically accurate.
Then there’s the question of the Ishihara test itself. Many people buy these glasses specifically to pass a vision test for a job—like being a pilot or a police officer.
Warning: Most regulatory bodies, like the FAA in the United States, do not allow the use of color-corrective lenses for flight physicals. Passing the test with the glasses on doesn't mean your color blindness is "fixed" for the sake of safety-critical tasks. The "after" in this context is purely cosmetic.
The emotional weight of the "after"
We shouldn't totally dismiss the emotional impact, though. Imagine living 20 years without ever realizing that an autumn forest isn't just a wall of brown.
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The "after" experience for a lot of people is about depth and detail. They notice that a brick wall isn't one solid color, but a mosaic of burnt orange, deep red, and grey. They see the "hidden" flowers in a green bush. It’s a texture change as much as a color change.
But there’s a "after-after" effect too. The "wow" factor eventually fades. After a few months, the glasses become just another tool. You stop marveling at the grass and just start wearing them because they make driving easier. That’s actually the true success of the technology—when the "after" becomes your new normal.
Critical factors to consider before you buy
If you’re thinking about dropping $300 to see if your color blind glasses before and after moment is worth it, don't just click "buy" on the first ad you see.
- Get a professional diagnosis. You need to know if you are a Protan (red-weak) or a Deutan (green-weak). Most companies sell specific lenses for each. If you buy the wrong one, they won't work. Period.
- Check the return policy. This is non-negotiable. Since the success rate is roughly 80% (and that's being generous), you need a way out if you’re in that 20% where your brain just doesn't "get it."
- Manage your expectations. You are not gaining a new superpower. You are narrowing the light spectrum to help your brain distinguish between two signals. It is an subtractive process, not an additive one.
- Lighting is everything. If you try them on inside your living room at night, you’ll be disappointed. Go outside at noon. That is when the physics of the lens actually has a chance to work.
What’s next for color vision tech?
We are moving away from just "sunglasses." Researchers are looking into contact lenses that do the same thing using gold nanoparticles. There’s also software being developed for AR (Augmented Reality) headsets that can shift colors in real-time, specifically tailored to an individual’s unique cone response. This would solve the "screen problem" that current glasses face.
For now, the best thing you can do is take a high-quality online test—EnChroma has a decent one, though a visit to an optometrist is better—and see where you fall on the spectrum.
If you decide to try them, give it time. Don't expect to cry. Don't even expect to be impressed on day one. Put them on, go for a walk in a park on a sunny day, and just look at the trees. Sometimes the "after" is a slow burn, not a lightning strike.
Actionable Steps for Better Results
- Take the Ishihara test twice: Once in natural light and once under fluorescent light to see how your deficiency shifts.
- Wear them for at least 30 minutes: Your eyes need time to adjust to the new "white balance" the glasses create.
- Compare specific objects: Instead of looking at a "rainbow," look at a red car against green leaves. That’s where the separation is most functional.
- Check for "indoor" versions: Some brands now offer lenses for lower light, but be aware they are generally less effective than the outdoor counterparts.