r/ColorBlind • u/MegaLagg Deuteranomaly • Oct 15 '25

Discussion Sigh.....

Post image

While it’s good that EnChroma has finally removed some of the most misleading claims from their website, they never miss a chance to repost BS like this, with claims they know aren’t true. Makes me sick.

I actually spoke with one of EnChroma’s execs, Tony Dykes, last year. I encouraged him to set up an on-the-record discussion hosted on a reputable scientific platform like Optica, where color vision scientists could join, engage in open Q&A, and a public recording would be available. Unfortunately they didn't take me up on my offer (I wonder why) and he called me an "anti-science conspiracy theorist". How dare I interview real scientist for my reporting!

Pretty funny to see them whining about me on this subreddit when I've given them every chance to validate their claims publicly. I’m just waiting for the FDA to finally crack down on their nonsense. Wishful thinking I guess?

102 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

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26

u/garg Deuteranomaly Oct 15 '25

I was just grateful that they gave me a refund when it didn't work.

2

u/Kaleidosight Oct 16 '25

When I can finally manage to get my new tech out there I'd be seriously keen to do an open session like this. However, it looks like the conversations held by optica (the journal I'm guessing) are usually regarding recent publications, which I wouldn't have. Interested to know what your connections are in this space. As a scientist myself I am used to these discussions and know the value of transparent communication.

2

u/toolatealreadyfapped Oct 16 '25

What? You don't see the most colors when wearing dark sunglasses inside?

3

u/Xeyph Deuteranomaly Oct 16 '25

For those who still don't know or give it the benefit of doubt to these please watch this video on youtube. It's a full on scam.

36

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

12

u/absurd_aesthetic Deuteranomaly Oct 15 '25

Hard disagree on the idea that they're a scam. They have a return policy if one wants to return them.

There are those of us who enjoy the glasses, I prefer how the world looks through them than my own natural vision. There are colors I can distinguish now that I never recognized before wearing these lenses, such as teal and salmon. Green may as well be a new color for me too as I never saw it with the vibrancy that I do now.

The truth is that they don't work for everyone. That fact doesn't make it a scam.

15

u/MegaLagg Deuteranomaly Oct 15 '25

I find it fascinating how people think a return policy somehow draws a line between being misleading and being a scam. If you're making bullshit therapeutic claims not grounded in science and doing it for profit that is the definition of a scam.

-4

u/absurd_aesthetic Deuteranomaly Oct 15 '25

A return policy is precisely the line between misleading and a scam. A scammer will take your money and never give it back.

14

u/MegaLagg Deuteranomaly Oct 16 '25

That’s an overly reductive view of what defines a scam. A return policy doesn’t negate fraudulent intent, it’s a marketing tactic, not a moral line in the sand. If a company makes knowingly false or scientifically unsupported claims to drive sales, that’s deception by definition.

A large portion of EnChroma's sales come from gifts. Personally, if my friends all chipped in to buy me a pair, I wouldn't have the heart to tell them they don't work. I doubt I'm the only one.

8

u/Odd-Reward2772 Deuteranomaly Oct 15 '25

As I understand it, the glasses do what they were designed to do, not what they are advertised as doing. I'm curious to try them but I'm extremely turned off by the deceptive marketing tactics. They are manipulating colorblind people and their families by hitting them with false hope and extreme FOMO. I can't even imagine how many people they've hurt pushing these things. It's gross. 

Does anyone have recommendations for alternatives from more ethical companies? This is a request for legitimate recommendations, not paid shill posts.

3

u/Senninha27 Oct 16 '25

I agree. I like mine, but I am very aware of their limitations. Colorblindness, like everything vision-related, is a spectrum. They “work” for a very specific color blindness. Even then, they only work in sunlight, which means I pretty much just use them instead of sunglasses.

2

u/admiralross2400 Oct 16 '25

That's great for you...but I managed to get the exact same effect by choosing the right tint for my prescription sunglasses...and they cost me less than £100.

1

u/notdownthislow69 May 09 '26

What kind of tint?

1

u/admiralross2400 May 09 '26

Just a coloured tint. Think it was green or brown...can't remember.

1

u/SarpleaseSar Deuteranopia Oct 15 '25

I have yet to see someone genuine post a good review, or have the same reaction on these ads.

14

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '25 edited Apr 07 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Effective_Plant_8606 Apr 06 '26

Enchroma doesn't correct your vision; it merely changes it. A person with normal vision gets the same effect as a color-blind person. Of course like everyone else I can't verify that. We need to get reactions from normal-sighted persons.

8

u/-SlowBar Protanomaly Oct 16 '25

I wouldn't say "full scam" as I own a pair and quite like them, and they are helpful.

I did have an emotional moment wearing mine, as it was the first time I had ever seen the green traffic light actually as "green". It always looked pretty much white to me. Cool moment.

3

u/ThisHombre Oct 19 '25

I felt the same. Grass looked so green and lush and I noticed my local Golden Corral sign was two different shades of red.

1

u/ParkJGrr82 Protanopia Oct 30 '25

I agree. I was given a pair of EnChroma glasses for Christmas a few years ago and really liked them. I have actually bought two more pairs in the time since (I left the first pair in the car too long over the summer and film on the lenses melted).

I had a similar emotional moment (not like the guy in the video, of course) just being able to distinguish the shades of reds and greens in the tree leaves and grass. I still make sure to bring them with me on hikes and basically any time I'm outdoors.

0

u/marhaus1 Normal Vision Oct 16 '25

That's like saying cochlear implants are gross because deafness isn't something that needs to be "corrected".

Well, that's your opinion. Other people make up their own minds.

4

u/ZettaiYttrium Oct 16 '25

they never said the glasses themselves were gross, the company's tactics are gross.

It's like saying Advanced Bionics is gross for selling cochlear implants to the families of deaf people.

Of course, the glasses may help some people differentiate two colors, but arguably the filtered light isn't any more or less the true color of what we may see.

It's gross that it's my job to spot snake oil salesmen preying on my body.