Protanopia is a type of color blindness that affects the perception of red light. Individuals with protanopia have difficulty distinguishing between red and green hues due to the absence of red photopigments in their eyes. This condition is caused by a genetic mutation and is more common in males than females. People with protanopia may see reds as dark gray or black, while greens may appear more yellowish. This can impact daily activities, such as reading traffic lights or choosing ripe fruits. Protanopia is one of several types of color vision deficiencies, including deuteranopia and tritanopia.