Perched upon the front desk at CAM a pair of EnChroma glasses is on display. These lightweight glasses have a thick black frame with a pinkish lens, and allows those with color blindness to see more of the color spectrum. According to the National Eye Institute, about 8.5 percent of the world’s population is color-blind. Color blindness mostly affects men, and although most with the condition are born with it, sometimes it does not appear until later in life. EnChroma glasses use a special light filter to address red-green color blindness, the most common symptom, which can reduce color recognition up to 90 percent. 

CAM has offered EnChroma glasses since 2017. On average, they are used three to four times a week by more than 120 visitors a year. Stephanie Syjuco’s chroma-key green in her platform installation Dodge and Burn and the multicolored flag display of Rogue States are made more vivid thanks to the glasses. The bold reds of Bethany Collins‘s Information Wanted create a stark contrast against the white museum walls. The availability of EnChroma glasses continues to forward CAM’s mission of being accessible and free to all, one visitor at a time.

—Alli Beard