If I earned a dollar every time someone said “Those lights are going to give me a seizure” I’d be rich. In all actuality, this is not a reality for the average person, let alone someone with epilepsy. One of the biggest misconceptions about epilepsy is that flashing lights automatically cause seizures in people with epilepsy. Movies, video games, concerts, social media videos, and even medical procedures often come with warnings about flashing lights, leading many people to believe this is a universal trigger.
Only about 3% of people with epilepsy have photosensitive epilepsy, meaning their seizures can be triggered by flashing or flickering lights. That means the vast majority of people living with epilepsy are not affected by flashing lights at all.
What Is Photosensitive Epilepsy?
Photosensitive epilepsy is a specific type of epilepsy where seizures may be triggered by visual stimuli such as:
- Rapidly flashing lights
- Flickering screens
- Certain high-contrast patterns
- Fast-changing visual images
For individuals with photosensitive epilepsy, these triggers can overstimulate the brain and provoke abnormal electrical activity.
The following Epileptic syndromes are commonly linked to photosensitive epilepsy: Jeavons, Sunflower Syndrome, Dravets, and Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy.
However, this condition is relatively uncommon.
Performing Photic Stimulation
Although photosensitive epilepsy is rare, photic stimulation is a standard practice when performing an EEG. A lamp with flashing lights is placed at a distance of 30cm from the face. Each frequency ranging anywhere from 1-30hz is flashed for a period of 10seconds with a 5-7 second pause between frequencies. On a normal patient we expect to see a physiologic response in the form of “Photic Driving.” Photic driving is a rhythmic activity that is time-locked to the flash frequencies. On the EEG, these wave forms appear in the occipital region.
Flashing-light warnings are important because they protect the small percentage of people who are sensitive to these triggers. But over time, these warnings have unintentionally created the impression that all epilepsy is caused by flashing lights.
In reality, seizure triggers vary widely from person to person and may include:
- Lack of sleep
- Stress
- Illness or fever
- Missed medications
- Alcohol use
- Hormonal changes
- Specific neurological conditions
Many people with epilepsy never experience any issues with concerts, video games, emergency vehicle lights, or television screens.
Education Matters
Understanding the facts about epilepsy helps reduce fear and stigma. Assuming every person with epilepsy is vulnerable to flashing lights can unintentionally spread misinformation.
Instead, awareness should focus on the reality that epilepsy is a complex neurological condition with many different types, triggers, and experiences.
Flashing lights can trigger seizures, but only for a small subset of the epilepsy population. About 97% of people with epilepsy do not have photosensitive epilepsy. So no, the strobe lights at the concert are not going to give you seizures.
Accurate education helps create a more informed, supportive, and understanding community for everyone living with epilepsy.
This educational blog post was writtenfor IntraNerve Neuroscience by Tina Search, REEGT., CLTM, our EEG medical educator.
