Ishihara Colour Vision Testing: A Buyer's Guide
The Ishihara test book is one of the most widely ordered items in an ophthalmic catalogue, and one of the simplest — a bound set of pseudo-isochromatic plates used to screen for red–green colour vision deficiency. It is bought in ones by clinics and in dozens by occupational programmes. This guide covers what to check before ordering.
What it is
The Ishihara colour blindness test book presents printed plates in which a figure is distinguishable by colour contrast. It is used for red–green colour deficiency screening, in routine eye examinations and in occupational and pre-employment vision testing.
It is a screening tool. What a given result means, and what happens next, is a clinical and programme decision — not something the book itself settles.
What to check before ordering
- Plate count. Editions differ in how many plates they contain. Confirm the number on the quote rather than assuming.
- Binding. For high-throughput occupational screening the book is opened and closed dozens of times a day, so binding durability matters more than it does in a clinic drawer.
- Print condition and handling. Plates are a printed medium — ask how they should be stored and handled to keep them serviceable.
- Lighting. Ask what illumination conditions the plates are intended to be viewed under, and make sure your screening room can provide them consistently.
- Quantity. Multi-site programmes should order per site, not per organisation.
Who buys it, and how
The buying patterns are quite different, and it is worth knowing which one you are dealing with:
| Buyer | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Eye clinics and optical retailers | One copy, ordered alongside other refraction items |
| Occupational health and pre-employment screening | Multiple copies, one per screening station |
| Schools and colleges | Bulk, often as part of a screening programme |
| Transport and industrial employers | Multiple sites, repeat replacement orders |
| Distributors | A steady, low-value, high-frequency line |
If your programme has to satisfy a specific employer or authority requirement, confirm what that requirement actually specifies before ordering — requirements vary by country and sector, and the right answer is the one in your own programme documentation.
It rarely travels alone
Colour vision screening is usually one station in a larger check. The items ordered alongside it:
- A distance vision drum or LED vision screen chart for acuity.
- A near vision drum for near testing.
- A direct ophthalmoscope where a basic eye examination is part of the programme.
For a full portable setup, see our vision screening camp equipment checklist.
Source direct
Optolab Zone manufactures and exports Ishihara test books and the full ophthalmic range from Ambala, India. Tell us quantities, number of sites and destination and we’ll quote with export terms. Request a quote or message us on WhatsApp.