Many Americans travel near and far to see scenes of fall foliage bursting with fall colors across the United States
Deep reds, bright yellows, crisp browns and other natural colors are typically the centerpiece of leaf-peeping season.
But, for those who suffer from color blindness, the thrill of the visuals may be quite less.
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For those people who are color blind, They are unable to see colors normally and often cannot distinguish between certain colors.
According to, it can be between green and red and sometimes blue. American Academy of Ophthalmology.
In the retina, there are two types of cells that detect light, and they are known as rods and cones, says Natasha Herz, MD, spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and ophthalmologist at Family Eye Care & Surgery in Rockville, Maryland. disease expert, previously told Fox News Digital.
Cone cells detect color and are concentrated near the center of your vision. The brain uses input from these cone cells to determine color perception, he said.
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There are three types of color seeing cones: red, green, and blue.
“color blindness This can happen when one or more color cone cells are absent, not working, or detect a different color than normal,” Hertz said.
According to the U.S., approximately 12 million Americans, or 3.7% percent of the U.S. population, are color blind, including 7% of men and 0.4% of women. Howard Hughes Medical Institute in New York.
People who suffer from color-blindness often miss out on the miracle of seeing the amazing colors of nature’s beauty, but in Virginia, people who suffer from color-blindness can use special viewfinders to capture the beauty of fall foliage. Are.
Here’s what travelers should know.
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Virginia is for leaf-lovers
A news release issued by Virginia State Parks states that Virginia State Parks is the first park system in the nation to install EnChroma-adapted viewfinders for color-blind guests in every park.
Setting up the EnChroma-optimized viewfinder Virginia State Parks It began in 2023 at Natural Tunnel State Park in the commonwealth.
The initiative was led by Chief Ranger Ethan Howes who is color-blind, the same source cited.
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The remaining 42 state parks received their visionaries in 2024.
Matt Wells, director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages Virginia state parks, said in a statement, “This initiative underscores Virginia’s commitment to enhancing outdoor experiences for all visitors and to state parks across the country. Sets a new standard.”
“We are proud to play a role in opening up a world of vibrant colors to color-blind individuals experiencing nature like never before.”
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The viewfinders were made by Seacoast Manufacturing and have special lenses to magnify what is being viewed. Individuals can use these specially equipped viewfinders to get a clear glimpse of the colors and shades of fall scenery in Virginia’s state parks.
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To fund the Viewpoint initiative, donations were raised through the Round-Up for Parks program, allowing visitors to donate to Virginia state parks online or when making a purchase at a park, according to Virginia State Parks officials. Announced.
Since 2018, visitors have donated nearly $300,000, which has been invested in improving the offerings and activities, the same statement revealed.
“EnChroma viewfinders help us create a unique experience for our red-green color blind visitors and allow them to better enjoy the breathtaking beauty of our state parks,” said Virginia State Parks Director Melissa Baker, Ph.D. Are.” Said in the release.
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“Seeing the world in living color is a gift that many of us take for granted.”
Virginia state parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Fox News Digital contacted Virginia State Parks for comment.