What are the different ways to being color blind?

Mostly congenital: Color blindness (actually color confision) is not uncommon, being present from birth in 6% of males and .6% of females. It can also be aquired rarely, with disease of the optic nerve or macula.

Several types: There are several different types of inherited color deficiency varying in spectrum and intensity. You can lose color recognition by advanced retinal disease like diabetes or retinitis pigmentosa. Optic nerve disease can change color recognition and there are a few rare cortical strokes that can do this.