This free online screening test checks how well you can distinguish colours, focusing on red-green colour vision deficiency, the type that affects around 8% of men and 0.5% of women of Northern European descent. You work through eight Ishihara-style dot plates shown one at a time, each generated from clusters of randomly coloured dots that hide a number inside a different-coloured background. For every plate you select the number you see from the multiple-choice buttons provided, or choose "Nothing" if no number is visible, then move on using the next and previous buttons while a row of progress dots tracks your answers. Once all eight plates are done, the calculator returns your score out of eight with a plain-English interpretation: seven or eight correct suggests normal colour vision, four to six points to a possible mild deficiency such as deuteranomaly, and below four suggests a more significant deficiency. Before you start, set your screen to maximum brightness in a well-lit room and turn off night mode or any blue light filter, because screen calibration and lighting change how the dot colours appear. You can retake the test as often as you like. This is a screening tool only, not a medical diagnosis, so if your result suggests a deficiency, see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for a proper clinical assessment using calibrated Ishihara plates or the Farnsworth D-15 test.
| Type | Affects | Prevalence |
|---|---|---|
| Deuteranomaly | Reduced green sensitivity | ~5% of men |
| Protanomaly | Reduced red sensitivity | ~1% of men |
| Deuteranopia | No green cones | ~1% of men |
| Protanopia | No red cones | ~1% of men |
| Tritanopia | No blue cones | Very rare |
| Achromatopsia | Total colour blindness | ~1 in 30,000 |
This screening tool generates approximate Ishihara-style plates using Canvas rendering. Screen colour accuracy varies by device. This is not a substitute for a clinical colour vision assessment by a qualified eye care professional.
If you've found a bug, or would like to contact us, or learn more about James Graham and Calculate.co.nz.
Calculate.co.nz is partnered with Interest.co.nz for New Zealand's highest quality calculators and financial analysis.
Calculate.co.nz is the sister site of CalculatorHub.com, the world's largest calculator website by tool count.
All calculators and tools are provided for educational and indicative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.
Calculate.co.nz is proudly part of the Realtor.co.nz group, New Zealand's leading property transaction literacy platform, helping Kiwis understand the home buying and selling process from start to finish. Whether you're a first home buyer navigating your first property purchase, an investor evaluating your next acquisition, or a homeowner planning to sell, Realtor.co.nz provides clear, independent, and trustworthy guidance on every step of the New Zealand property transaction journey.
Calculate.co.nz is also partnered with Health Based Building and Premium Homes to promote informed choices that lead to better long-term outcomes for Kiwi households.
Calculate.co.nz is hosted in Auckland via SiteHost new Zealand.
All content on this website, including calculators, tools, source code, and design, is protected under the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). No part of this site may be reproduced, copied, distributed, stored, or used in any form without prior written permission from the owner.
About & trust: Why Calculate is NZ's most comprehensive · By the Numbers · How we compare · Editorial standards · How we keep data current · NZ finance glossary · Research & data · Financial literacy NZ · About · Privacy policy · Terms of use
Reviewed and maintained. Last reviewed 2026-07-02 and checked on a twice-monthly cycle against IRD, RBNZ and Stats NZ. How we keep data current.
© 2026 Calculate.co.nz. All rights reserved. Building free NZ calculators since 2011.