What does daltonism specifically refer to?

Daltonism specifically refers to a type of color vision deficiency, most commonly associated with the inability to distinguish between greens and reds. This condition arises from the way colors are perceived due to the lack of certain color receptors or cones in the eye. Individuals with this condition often confuse these colors, which is particularly evident in situations where green and red are adjacent to one another, such as in traffic lights or certain forms of art.

The term "daltonism" is derived from the surname of John Dalton, an early scientist who documented his own color blindness in the early 19th century and contributed significantly to our understanding of color vision deficiencies.