A vision problem may mask the symptoms of bladder cancer, leading to delayed death

Colorblindness, a condition that mostly affects men, may be linked to a higher risk of death in cases of bladder cancer, new research suggests.

About 8% of men are estimated to have color vision deficiency (CVD), compared to 0.5% of women, according to world statistics.

This condition where patients see and identify color differently, can cause people to miss blood in the urine, which is an important symptom of bladder cancer.

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Blood in the urine is the most common first symptom of the disease and is often the impetus for the diagnosis, according to Stanford Medicine researchers.

Those with colorblindness often have difficulty seeing the colors red and green, which can present “everyday challenges.”

In a recent study, published in the journal Nature Health, researchers analyzed medical records and found that bladder cancer patients who also became colorblind had a 52% higher mortality rate over 20 years than those patients who had normal vision.

Since people who are color blind cannot see blood in their urine, they may delay seeking care, which can lead to worse outcomes, the findings suggest. Bladder cancer is about four times more common in men than in women.

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Senior study author Ehsan Rahimy, MD, clinical associate professor of ophthalmology at Stanford Medicine, noted in a press release that he “hopes this study raises awareness, not only for colorblind patients, but also for our colleagues who are blind.”

“Colorblindness does not cause bladder cancer, but it can make early warning signs easy to miss.”

Dr. Douglas Lazzaro, a professor in NYU Langone’s Department of Ophthalmology, said the inability to see red in this condition is “a real risk.”

“The patient, the family and the doctor should be aware of this potential gap in diagnosis,” Lazzaro, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “It is important to raise awareness of the potential problems in diagnosing bladder or kidney cancer in people who are color blind.”

An image to be tested for color blindness is displayed. Red-green color blindness is the most common form. (Stock)

“What I think is that it is possible that many doctors do not look at the health record properly to be able to deal with this eye problem, which leads to a delay in diagnosis as the patient may not see the issue,” he added.

Although this issue cannot be completely avoided, Lazzaro suggested that it can be prevented if blind patients are aware of the risks and inform their doctors about their vision.

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Dr. Don Railsback, an ophthalmologist and CEO of Vision Care Direct in Kansas, agreed that people with known CVD and their doctors should “be careful.”

“This is the kind of small detail in medical history that could change the way we counsel patients about symptoms they shouldn’t ignore,” he told Fox News Digital.

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“The takeaway is simple: Don’t rely on the color alone to diagnose the problem. Bladder cancer can show up as painless bleeding, and if you suspect blood in your urine, you should let your doctor know.”

One doctor said the study is a reminder to consolidate health guidance to “real-world differences” that are often seen as “small details.” (Stock)

Railsback, who was not part of the study, added that if the urine color looks “off” — for example, tea-colored or unusually dark — the patient should be evaluated “immediately.”

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“This study is a strong reminder to adapt health guidance to accommodate real-world differences and diversity, including color vision,” he said.

For people who are color blind, Railsback recommends asking their primary care physician for a urinalysis at an annual visit. If something seems unusual, they should ask a partner or partner.

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“Colorblindness does not cause bladder cancer, but it can make it easier to miss a warning sign,” he said. “Adjusting awareness and simple assessment, not fear.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the study’s authors for comment.