Survey of Color Vision Deficiency Among Male Students at Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State

Color vision deficiency is an inherited condition that disproportionately affects males and can limit career options in fields requiring accurate color discrimination. This study surveys the prevalence and types of color vision deficiency among male students at Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive study will be conducted among 500 male students randomly selected from engineering, science, and technology departments. Color vision testing will be performed using the Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates, with confirmatory testing using the Farnsworth D-15 panel test for suspected moderate to severe cases. Sociodemographic data will be collected using a brief structured questionnaire. Data analysis will employ frequency counts, percentages, and chi-square tests to compare deficiency rates across departments. The study anticipates a prevalence of approximately 5 to 8 percent, consistent with estimates for sub-Saharan African males. Findings will have vocational implications, particularly for students in courses requiring color-critical tasks such as electrical engineering and laboratory science. Results will be shared with the polytechnic's student affairs and career counseling departments. This research provides important occupational optometry data for Nigerian polytechnic students in the South East zone and highlights the need for routine color vision screening as part of pre-admission medicals for color-sensitive academic programs. Keywords: color vision deficiency, male students, polytechnic, Imo State, Ishihara plates