The term protanomaly comes from the Greek wordsprotos (first) and anomalia (anomaly, irregularity). It translates loosely as 'an irregularity in the ability to perceive the first of the primary colours (i.e. red)'. The term's introduction is generally attributed to the German ophthalmologist and physiologist Willibald A. Nagel (1870-1911). Phenomenologically, protanomaly presents in the form of a reduced sensitivity to reds. Pathophysiologically, it is associated with a diminished sensitivity of the red receptor mechanism. Protanomaly is classified as an * anomalous trichromatism, which itself constitutes one of the * colour vision deficiencies. The term protanomaly is used in opposition to the terms * deuteranomaly and * tritanomaly.
References
McIntyre, D. (2002). Colour blindness. Causes and effects. Chester, PA: Dalton Publishing.
Nagel, W.A. (1898). Beiträge zur Diagnostik, Symptomatologie und Statistik der angeborenen Farbenblindheit. Archiv für Augenheilkunde, 38, 31-66.
Dictionary of Hallucinations. J.D. Blom. 2010.