Köllner's rule

Köllner’s Rule is a term used in ophthalmology and optometry that pertains to the progressive nature of color vision loss that is secondary to eye disease. This rule states that outer retinal diseases and media changes result in blue-yellow color defects, while diseases of the inner retina, optic nerve, visual pathway, and visual cortex will result in red-green defects (Köllner 1912), (Schwartz 2004).

There are exceptions to Köllner’s Rule, notably glaucoma, which is an optic nerve disorder, and is usually associated with blue-yellow defects.

Sources

• Köllner H. Die Störungen des Farbensinners. ihre klinische Bedeutung und ihre Diagnose. Berlin: Karger; 1912. Schwartz S. Visual Perception: A Clinical Orientation. New York, New York; 2004.
• Acquired colour vision defects in glaucoma