Specialized viewfinders installed in Virginia parks allow visitors to view changing leaves, despite some people’s difficulty distinguishing the hues.

Every year, tens of millions of Americans travel to mid-Atlantic states, New England and the Great Lakes regions to catch a glimpse of the leaves changing color during the fall season. But for colorblind people, the event can be rather boring. Thanks to the determination of a park ranger – who also suffers from color blindness – the vibrant views of fall foliage can now be enjoyed in their full spectrum.

Ethan Howes, a Virginia The state park ranger said the Commonwealth has deployed specialized viewfinders in its notable parks to allow red-green colorblind visitors to see the yellows, reds and even browns that make up fall foliage.

Howes said he relied on research and deployment of sights in Tennessee before developing a plan for Virginia tourist sites.

The first installation of EnChroma-friendly sights began in 2023, with 42 sites having received their sights in the past year.

“A family came here and they came across our viewfinder that we have on our gazebo,” Howes told FOX Weather. “They started going through it, and both father and son were red-green color blind. The mother told me they were thrilled.”

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A ridge in the Blue Ridge Mountains is ablaze with fall colors October 18, 2008 on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah Park, Virginia. The red and gold leaves attract hundreds of people to the scenic route.

(Photo by KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

According to the Colorblind Awareness Groupapproximately 300 million people worldwide suffer from color vision deficiency, affecting approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women.

There are three main types of color blindness: red-green color blindness, blue-yellow color blindness, and complete color vision deficiency, which involves only seeing objects in shades of gray. Red-green color blindness is the most common deficiency among the approximately 300 million people affected.

According to Virginia State Parksthe purchase of the sights was funded entirely by donations, and the parks also invested in special glasses that visitors can use on hikes and other outdoor excursions.

“Seeing the world in vibrant colors is a gift that many of us take for granted,” Dr. Melissa Baker, director of Virginia State Parks, said in a statement. “EnChroma viewfinders help us create a one-of-a-kind experience for our red-green color blind visitors and allow them to better enjoy the breathtaking beauty of our national parks.”

Normal color vision versus color vision deficiency

(EnChroma/FOX Weather)

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“Give your eyes time to adjust”

Howes has some advice for those considering traveling to the Commonwealth to use the sights.

The longtime park employee said the devices don’t solve all types of color blindness, but for the majority of visitors, they will notice considerable improvement.

“It took my brain a little while to adjust to the views. So if someone comes to visit one of our parks and uses the viewer, it’s not instantaneous. Just take a second, look through, maybe step back, then look again to give your eyes time to adjust,” Howes said.

Most foliage across the country, including Virginia, has already reached its peak. tip coloras trees and other vegetation prepare for the long winter season.