Accommodating color vision deficiencies in biomedical publications.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical imaging
• Scientific communication
• Human visual perception

Background:

• Color vision deficiencies (CVD), particularly red-green types like deuteranomaly and protanopia, affect a significant portion of the population, especially males.
• Biomedical journals frequently use red-green color schemes in figures (e.g., heatmaps, fluorescence images), creating accessibility barriers for individuals with CVD.
• A substantial percentage of scientific figures are not designed inclusively, leading to potential misinterpretation and reduced scientific knowledge dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and outline strategies for enhancing the accessibility of figures in biomedical publications for individuals with color vision deficiencies.
• To promote inclusive design principles in scientific visualization to improve clarity and prevent misinterpretation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing strategies for improving figure accessibility.
• Analysis of common problematic color contrasts in scientific figures.
• Identification of best practices for inclusive figure design.

Main Results:

• Red-green color combinations are a primary source of inaccessibility in scientific figures.
• Effective strategies include avoiding red-green palettes, utilizing perceptually uniform color maps, and ensuring adequate luminance contrast.
• Supplementing color with patterns, annotations, alternative text, and using colorblindness simulators are crucial for enhancing usability.

Conclusions:

• Implementing inclusive design practices in biomedical figures is essential for equitable access to scientific information.
• Adopting recommended strategies will improve the clarity, impact, and interpretability of published research for a wider audience.
• Inclusive figure design strengthens scientific communication and upholds the integrity of published research.