Congenital color defects occur in what percentage of the male population?

Congenital color defects, such as color blindness, primarily affect males due to the way these conditions are inherited. The genes associated with the most common forms of color blindness are located on the X chromosome. Since males have only one X chromosome (XY), any recessive gene for color blindness will manifest as a defect.

Estimates suggest that approximately 8% of the male population experiences some form of congenital color defect. This figure represents a widely accepted range in epidemiological studies. The specific percentage indicates that color vision deficiencies are significantly more prevalent among men than women, who have two X chromosomes and would require two copies of the recessive gene to express the condition.

Understanding this prevalence helps to highlight the genetic and biological factors influencing color vision, aiding in the diagnosis and management of the condition in affected individuals.