The Rabin Cone Contrast Test (RCCT) is a computerized color vision test that precisely measures the sensitivity of each individual cone pathway in the eye, red, green, and blue, separately, and tests each eye independently. Developed through more than 15 years of U.S. Air Force–led research, the RCCT is one of the most advanced and quantitative assessments of color vision available today.

The RCCT is one of only three color vision tests accepted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an approved color vision test. We offer the Rabin Cone Contrast Test at our main office in Baltimore, Maryland, and were the first civilian doctor to bring this testing technology into private clinical practice.

Not all color vision tests work the same way. Understanding the difference between test types is important — especially if your employer or licensing board requires a specific test.

There are three main categories of color vision tests:

• Pseudoisochromatic Plate (PIP) Tests — These tests present a series of plates containing numbers or patterns embedded in a field of colored dots. The most widely used PIP tests are the Ishihara Color Plate Test and the Waggoner Computerized Color Vision Test (CCVT). Both are PIP tests — the Ishihara uses physical plates, the Waggoner presents them digitally on a calibrated monitor. PIP tests are primarily designed to screen for the presence of red-green color vision deficiency.
• Color Arrangement Tests — These tests ask the patient to arrange colored caps or chips in order of hue. Examples include the Farnsworth D-15 and the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test. They assess the type and severity of color vision deficiency across a broader range of hues.
• Cone Contrast Sensitivity Testing — Unlike pseudoisochromatic plate (PIP) tests, which present numbers or patterns camouflaged within a field of colored dots, or color arrangement tests, which ask patients to arrange colored chips in order of hue, the Rabin Cone Contrast Test (RCCT) does neither. The RCCT does present letters or numbers, but without a camouflage background. Instead of screening for whether a patient can detect a hidden pattern, it measures the contrast sensitivity of each individual cone type — red (L-cone), green (M-cone), and blue (S-cone) — separately, and tests each eye independently. This makes the RCCT more precise and more quantitative than either PIP tests or arrangement tests.

The RCCT produces a score from 0 to 100 for each cone type (red, green, and blue) and for each eye independently.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires a score of 55 or above on all three color channels (red, green, and blue) and in each eye to receive a passing result. This threshold applies to pilots and aviation professionals seeking FAA medical certification.

Other employers and licensing boards that use the RCCT may have their own passing thresholds. If you have been told you need to pass the RCCT for a specific job or license, contact our office and we can help you understand what is required.

The RCCT is used by employers, licensing boards, and medical examiners that require a precise, quantitative color vision assessment. Because it measures each cone type and each eye independently, it is favored in situations where a detailed evaluation of color vision is required — not just a pass/fail screening.

The RCCT is used in the following contexts:

• Aviation — The FAA accepts the RCCT as one of only three approved color vision tests for pilots and aviation medical certification.
• Military — Various branches of the U.S. military use the RCCT as part of color vision qualification for specific roles and assignments.
• Law enforcement and other occupational fields — Some agencies and employers in law enforcement and other industries that require precise color discrimination use the RCCT as part of their medical or fitness-for-duty evaluations.
• Clinical and medical settings — The RCCT is also used by eye care professionals to detect and monitor color vision changes associated with retinal, optic nerve, and neurologic conditions, as well as medication-related retinal toxicity.

If you are unsure whether your employer or licensing board uses the RCCT, contact our office. We can help you identify which color vision test you need to pass and how we can help.

• Early Disease Detection: The RCCT aids in identifying patients at risk for developing eye and neurological diseases, allowing for earlier recognition and intervention.
• Progress Monitoring: It enables rapid detection of disease progression, providing crucial information for timely adjustments in treatment plans.
• Treatment Efficacy Evaluation: The test plays a vital role in assessing the effectiveness of treatments, helping ensure patients receive the most beneficial therapies.
• Comprehensive Color Vision Assessment: With sensitivity and specificity comparable to anomaloscope testing, the RCCT surpasses pseudoisochromatic plate (PIP) test sensitivity in practiced observers, offering a rapid and clinically precise measure of color vision.
• Quantifying Color Performance: The test quantifies color vision performance precisely, ensuring individuals meet the necessary standards for occupations and activities that require accurate color discrimination.
• Diagnosing Hereditary Deficiencies: The RCCT is instrumental in diagnosing the type and severity of hereditary color vision deficiencies, providing valuable information for patient counseling and management.
• Detecting Acquired Sensitivity Loss: The RCCT is crucial for detecting acquired sensitivity loss due to ocular, neurologic, and systemic diseases, as well as injuries and physiological stressors such as altitude and fatigue.

Since 1999, the ColorCorrection System™ has maintained a 100% success rate on the Ishihara Color Plate Test, and the system now also guarantees the ability to pass the Rabin Cone Contrast Test (RCCT), as well as the Waggoner Computerized Color Vision Test (CCVT) and the Farnsworth D-15 Color Vision Test.

The ColorCorrection System uses a proprietary combination of tests and filters to precisely determine the exact wavelength of light required to design custom color corrective lenses — available as color blind contact lenses or color blind glasses. The entire process is completed in a single all-day appointment at our office in Baltimore, Maryland.

The system has helped patients in military, law enforcement, railroad, maritime, aviation, and many other careers pass their required color vision tests. Read testimonials from real patients who have experienced life-changing results.

Contact us today at (443) 470-9844 or complete our contact form to schedule a free phone consultation and discuss your options.

Have questions about the Rabin Cone Contrast Test? Find answers to the most commonly asked questions below. For additional information or to schedule a free phone consultation, contact our office at +1-443-470-9844 or visit our contact page.

Yes. The ColorCorrection System™ guarantees the ability to pass the Rabin Cone Contrast Test (RCCT). Using custom-designed color corrective contact lenses or glasses, the system corrects the exact wavelengths of light your eyes need to achieve a passing score. The entire treatment process is completed in a single all-day appointment at our office in Baltimore, Maryland. Contact us to schedule a free phone consultation and discuss your options.

Yes. We offer the Rabin Cone Contrast Test (RCCT) at our main office at 1427 Clarkview Road, Suite 200, Baltimore, Maryland 21209. The RCCT is available as part of our Color Vision Examination — a complete and comprehensive eye examination that includes three color vision tests, one of which is the RCCT. Dr. Azman was the first civilian doctor to bring RCCT testing technology into private clinical practice.

The Ishihara Color Plate Test is a pseudoisochromatic plate (PIP) test — it presents a series of plates containing numbers embedded in colored dots, and is primarily used to screen for the presence of red-green color vision deficiency. The Rabin Cone Contrast Test (RCCT) is a cone contrast sensitivity test — unlike the Ishihara, it does not present numbers hidden in a camouflage dot pattern. The RCCT presents letters or numbers without a camouflage background and measures the contrast sensitivity of each individual cone type (red, green, and blue) separately, testing each eye independently. This makes the RCCT more precise and more quantitative than the Ishihara. Both tests are guaranteed to be passed using the ColorCorrection System™.

Because the RCCT is a computerized color vision test, results are available immediately upon completion of the test. The RCCT is offered at Colormax as part of our Color Vision Examination — a complete and comprehensive eye examination that includes three color vision tests. Contact our office at +1-443-470-9844 to schedule your examination.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accepts the Rabin Cone Contrast Test (RCCT) as one of only three approved color vision tests for pilots and aviation medical certification. Various branches of the U.S. military also use the RCCT as part of color vision qualification for specific roles. Other employers and licensing boards in industries that require precise color vision discrimination may also use the RCCT as part of their medical or fitness-for-duty evaluations. If you have been told you need to pass the RCCT for a specific job or license, contact our office and we can help you understand what is required and how the ColorCorrection System™ can help.