The Army Uses the PIP and FALANT Tests to Screen for Color Blindness

The two standard color vision tests utilized by the U.S. Army are the Pseudoisochromatic Plate (PIP) test and the Farnsworth Lantern (FALANT) test. The PIP is used for initial screening, while the FALANT serves as a follow-up evaluation to precisely determine color discrimination abilities.

Color blindness, also known medically as color vision deficiency (CVD), is the inability to distinguish certain shades and hues. For Army personnel, accurate color perception is often critical for performing duties such as interpreting maps, spotting camouflage, tracing wires, and recognizing signals. That‘s why the Army thoroughly tests for this condition during medical entrance processing.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide an in-depth look at:

• The different types and causes of color blindness
• Exactly how color vision is evaluated for Army enlistment
• Tips for passing the PIP and FALANT color tests
• The latest treatments and adaptive strategies for managing color deficiencies
• My perspectives as an optometrist on how the Army tests for CVD

Let‘s start by examining what color blindness is, what causes it, and how it impacts color perception.

What Is Color Blindness and Why Does It Happen?

Color vision depends on light-sensitive photoreceptor cells in the retina called cones. There are three types of cones, each containing pigments that respond to different wavelengths of light corresponding to blue, green, and red.

In people with normal color vision, all three cone types are present and fully functional. But in color blindness, one or more of the cone types are missing or defective. This results in an inability to distinguish colors that depend on those cones.

The most prevalent form by far is red-green color blindness, which affects around 99% of color deficient individuals. For them, either the red cones or green cones don‘t work correctly. As a result, reds, greens, browns, and oranges may appear confusingly similar.

Less commonly, the blue cones are impacted. This blue-yellow color blindness makes it hard to differentiate blues from yellows and purples from greens.

Extremely rarely, all cone types are entirely absent. The outcome of this total color blindness is only seeing shades of gray – a condition termed monochromacy or "seeing in black and white."

Now let‘s look at the prevalence of color blindness in the general population:

Approximate Rates of Color Vision Deficiency

Type	Prevalence
Red-Green Deficiency	1 in 12 males / 1 in 200 females
Blue-Yellow Deficiency	1 in 10,000
Total Color Blindness	1 in 100,000

Clearly, red-green CVD is by far the most common. But why does it affect males so much more frequently than females?

The answer lies in genetics. The genes for the red and green cone photopigments are carried on the X chromosome. Females have two X‘s, so a defect in one is often compensated for by the other. But males only have one X, so a genetic mutation in the color vision gene will definitely cause impairment.

While mainly inherited, color blindness can sometimes result from other causes:

• Retinal damage from injury or illness
• Side effect of certain medications
• Normal age-related cone deterioration

But for the vast majority affected, they are simply born with it. Now let‘s examine why this is relevant for Army enlistment.

The Critical Importance of Accurate Color Perception in the Army

Normal color vision provides substantial advantages in many Army roles. Here are just a few examples:

Spotting Camouflage

Identifying enemy troops, vehicles, or installations concealed with camo designed to blend into the environment. Even mild deficiencies could lead to missing critical threats.

Reading Maps

Topographical and aviation maps use color coded elevation contour lines, terrain markings, and Symbols. Subtly different hues may be difficult to distinguish.

Tracing Wires

Disarming explosives requires following color-coded wires. Severing the wrong wire could be catastrophic.

Recognizing Signals

Colored flares, smoke, flags and lights are used for communication and signaling. Confusing colors could lead to disastrous errors.

Flying Aircraft

Pilot instrument panels use colored lights and gauges to convey essential information. The wrong interpretation could lead to crashes.

Medical Care

Diagnosing conditions often depends on distinguishing blood or tissue discoloration. Inability to identify shades could impede treatment.

Take air traffic control as an example. Air traffic controllers must visually identify planes on radar using color coded blips and stripes. A 2007 study found controllers with red-green deficiency made 47% more errors than those with normal color vision.

So in many critical roles, even mild color blindness poses substantial risks. That‘s why the Army sets strict standards for color perception during enlistment processing.

Color Vision Requirements for Army Enlistment

All Army recruits must meet these baseline visual acuity requirements:

• Distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 in each eye, correctable to 20/20 with both eyes.
• Normal depth perception.
• Normal color vision (unless a waiver is granted).

However, the Army does grant waivers for certain mild color vision deficiencies depending on the intended occupation. Here are the specifics:

Combat Arms

For combat roles like infantry, artillery, armor, engineering, air defense, and special forces:

• No color vision waivers allowed. Normal color vision required.

Aviation

For pilots and air crew:

• No red-green deficiencies permitted. Normal color vision only.

Medical

For medical jobs like pharmacy specialist, optician, lab tech, or operating assistant:

• Mild red-green deficiencies may be allowed with occupational restrictions. Normal vision required for surgeons.

All Other Jobs

For all other Army careers like intelligence, logistics, administration, maintenance, photography, etc:

• Mild red-green deficiencies may be permitted, depending on severity. Moderate to severe impairments unlikely to be waived.

In summary, normal color vision is mandatory for combat and aviation. But those with mild red-green color blindness may still qualify for other positions if they can pass the Army‘s color vision testing protocols.

How the Army Tests for Color Vision Defects

The Army utilizes a two-step testing process to identify and evaluate color vision deficiencies.

Step 1: Pseudoisochromatic Plate Test

The first screening test administered is the Pseudoisochromatic Plate test, also known as the Ishihara Test. This test displays a series of circular dot patterns made up of colored dots.

Embedded within each pattern is a number or shape that is difficult or impossible for red-green deficient individuals to detect. The examinee must read aloud or trace the symbol.

Here is an example:

This screening can identify and categorize the severity of red-green color blindness as:

• Mild protanomaly or deuteranomaly: Mild difficulty discriminating reds and greens.

• Moderate protanopia or deuteranopia: Substantial inability to differentiate reds and greens.

• Severe protanopia or deuteranopia: Complete red-green color blindness.

However, the PIP has limitations:

• Primarily screens for red-green defects. Less effective at detecting tritan defects.

• Can‘t identify extremely subtle abnormalities.

• Performance depends heavily on lighting conditions.

Due to these constraints, the Army will often follow up with a more advanced quantitative test.

Step 2: Farnsworth Lantern Test

The Farnsworth Lantern (FALANT) test is considered the gold standard for precisely evaluating color discrimination. It can detect more mild deficiencies missed by screening tests like the PIP.

During the FALANT, the examinee sits in a dark room and arranges a set of different colored lamps in spectral order by hue (ROYGBIV). The number of mistakes and the misplacement patterns quantify both the type and extent of color vision defect.

The FALANT provides extremely accurate assessment of color sense due to these advantages:

• Can identify very subtle red-green and tritan defects.
• Quantifies the exact degree of impairment.
• Unaffected by lighting, experience, or learning.

For borderline or questionable results on the PIP, the Army follows up with the FALANT to thoroughly evaluate color perception abilities.

Tips for Passing the Army Color Vision Test

Here are some suggestions if you need to take the Army color vision exam:

• Review the standards for your desired occupation. Mild deficiencies may be allowed.

• Take an online color blindness self-test to gauge your abilities.

• Get professionally tested by an optometrist and bring those records.

• Study the PIP test plates online so you‘re familiar with them.

• Concentrate closely on each PIP pattern from the specified distance.

• On the FALANT, it‘s better to guess than skip a light.

• Don‘t stress or panic. Stay calm and perform your best.

While moderate to severe deficits will likely disqualify you, with mild color blindness and preparation, it‘s possible to pass the Army color vision test.

Current Treatment Options for Color Vision Defects

At present, there is no universally accepted cure for color blindness. However, some emerging therapies and adaptive technologies show promise for improving color perception.

Color Filtering Lenses

Tinted glasses or contacts block wavelengths that overlap and confuse cone responses. This enhances contrast between problematic colors like red and green.

Intraocular Filters

Implanted filters placed inside the eye provide more effective filtering than external lenses. But it‘s an invasive procedure with mixed results.

Gene Therapy

Experimental injections to insert missing photopigment genes may someday restore cone function. Human trials are still in early stages.

Vision Training Apps

Computer and phone apps aim to teach those with CVD to better discriminate colors by hue instead of brightness. But research on long-term benefits is limited.

While none of these options currently provide a complete cure, they demonstrate encouraging potential. Advancements in the coming decades could make color blindness much more treatable, or even curable.

Until then, implementing coping methods and color identification techniques can help maximize color discernment abilities. With training and awareness, it‘s possible to adapt and work around mild to moderate deficiencies.

My Perspectives as an Optometrist on Army Color Vision Testing

In my professional opinion as an eye doctor, the Army‘s two-step screening process using the PIP and FALANT tests is rigorous, thorough, and appropriate for identifying risky color vision defects.

The PIP provides an excellent initial assessment of red-green color sense. Using both traced and verbal formats improves reliability. The variability under different lighting is a limitation, but this is why the highly controlled FALANT serves as an ideal follow-up verification.

The FALANT removes all lighting and memorization factors. It also detects subtle acquired impairments, tritan defects, and extremely mild anomalies missed by other tests. Together, the PIP screening and FALANT confirmation provide a comprehensive evaluation.

For non-combat roles, allowing waivers for mild red-green anomalies seems a reasonable compromise, considering the high prevalence of these defects. However, keeping standards high for front-line troops who depend on acute color perception is absolutely vital.

As assistive technologies improve, the Army may be able to expand waivers to those correctable to near normal levels. But for now, strict enforcement for combat occupations protects both individuals and missions from potentially catastrophic consequences of color vision errors.

Conclusion: Essential Testing to Identify Risks of Color Blindness

Accurately perceiving color is a vital ability for many critical Army duties. To identify deficiencies, the Army screens all recruits using the PIP test, then verifies questionable results with the FALANT test.

This two-step process thoroughly reveals red-green and blue-yellow color sense impairments that could endanger personnel and missions. Those with moderate to severe deficiencies are restricted from occupations where normal color vision is imperative.

But for non-combat roles, waivers may be granted if deficits are mild and can be compensated for. Ongoing advances in assistive technologies and therapies provide hope that effective treatments will arrive within the coming years.

Until then, those living with color blindness can implement coping strategies and take advantage of emerging aids to maximize their color discrimination capabilities. With preparation, training, and awareness, mild color vision deficiencies need not limit achievement or success.