Why do flickering lights cause seizures

Sunlight on water. Railings, escalators, or other structures creating repetitive patterns as you move past them. Flashing or flickering lights or images Cameras with multiple flashes or many cameras flashing at once.

Strobe lights at performances or in nightclubs. Lights flickering, such as faulty fluorescent tubes and dimmers. Fireworks, if they create a high enough flash rate. Several circuits of festive lights flashing together could increase the flash rate. Reducing the risk of a photosensitive trigger The environment and how you use a screen Use a flatscreen TV or computer monitor.

Take regular breaks from the screen. Sit well back from the screen. Use a remote control to change channels. Watch TV or use a screen in a well-lit room. Use the settings in internet options to control moving images in your browser. Polarising sunglasses reduce reflection and glare such as sunlight on water. UK regulations Ofcom regulations require that TV programmes and news stories have a warning if there is going to be a high level of flashes in the programme.

What is unlikely to be a photosensitive trigger? Information produced: September Safeguarding people from online harms ZachsLaw. Epilepsy and staying safe on social media As social media continues to play an increasingly large role in modern life, this can bring with it extra challenges for people with epilepsy, especially for those who have photosensitive epilepsy.

Seizure triggers Triggers are situations that can bring on a seizure in some people with epilepsy. Sophie's Story Sophie Harries, 22, is a dietitian from Somerset. Taken from our 'photosensitive epilepsy' factsheet. Download a PDF.

He is now seizure free thanks to our world leading research. The image also must occupy enough of the retina. For the most part it requires at least a few seconds of flashing to cause a seizure. For most people, the most troublesome frequency range is 10 to 20 flashes per second. DH : In addition to flashing lights, certain regular patterns can trigger seizures — like high-contrast black and white striped patterns.

The first cortical brain area to process visual input is structured in columns that respond to edges or stripes of different orientation. We call these columns orientation columns. Orientation columns responding to the same orientation may inhibit each other. One hypothesis about pattern-sensitive epilepsy suggests this inhibition is less effective. Without this inhibition, a strong stimulus driving one set of orientation columns may provoke strong, uncontrolled, neuronal activity, e.

RF : Our treatments for epilepsy, including the light-sensitive variety, are symptomatic — they can suppress seizures, but not cure the epilepsy. Occasionally, surgery to fully remove a seizure onset zone in the brain can cure epilepsy, but epilepsy clinicians think more in terms of treatment than of cure.

Stay away from the discotheque or strobe lights. The contrast is higher, and riskier, if you play a brightly-lit game in an otherwise dark room. Unlike playing a fixed clip, a video game can be played so many different ways. Hannah Thomasy Hannah Thomasy is a freelance science journalist. Watching TV: Watch in a well-lit room to reduce the contrast between light from the set and light in the room and sit as far back from the screen as possible.

Avoid watching the monitor for long periods of time. If necessary, wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare. Playing video games: Sit at least two feet from the screen in a well-lit room and reduce the brightness of the screen. Do not play when tired. Take frequent breaks from the games and look away from the screen every once in a while. Do not close and open eyes while looking at the screen; blinking can trigger a seizure. Television Screens Watch television in a well-lit room to reduce the contrast between light from the set and light in the room.

Reduce the brightness of the screen. Sit as far back from the screen as possible. Avoid watching for long periods of time. Wear polarized sunglasses while viewing television to reduce glare. Video Games Sit at least 2 feet from the screen in a well-lit room. Do not let children play videogames if they are tired.

Take frequent breaks from games and look away from the screen every once in a while. Do not close and open eyes while looking at the screen. Blinking may facilitate seizures in sensitive individuals. Cover one eye while playing. Alternate which eye is covered at regular intervals. Turn the game off if strange or unusual feelings or body jerks develop.

Use a monitor glare guard. Wear non-glare glasses to reduce glare from the screen. Take frequent breaks from tasks involving the computer.