Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisSimilar ConditionsTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Similar Conditions
Treatment
Prevention
Photosensitive epilepsy is rare, affecting an estimated 3% of people who have epilepsy, and only rarely affecting people who do not have epilepsy.
Symptoms of Photosensitive Epilepsy
Photosensitive seizures generally start during childhood, but they can begin at a later age. A photosensitive seizure can involve a variety of symptoms, including involuntary (not on purpose) shaking and jerking of the body and/or impaired consciousness.
Can Flashing Lights Cause Seizures?Viewing bright lights, flashing lights, strong color contrasts, rapidly moving visuals, or repetitive geometric patterns for at least several seconds precedes photosensitive seizures.
Can Flashing Lights Cause Seizures?
Viewing bright lights, flashing lights, strong color contrasts, rapidly moving visuals, or repetitive geometric patterns for at least several seconds precedes photosensitive seizures.
Symptoms of photosensitive epilepsy can include:
You might be aware of what is happening during the episode or your consciousness can be impaired. These seizures generally last for a few seconds but can go on for several minutes or longer. They are described as tonic-clonic seizures orgrand malseizures.
During one of these episodes, you would not lose muscle tone or fall down. The seizures usually last for a few seconds. Most people regain consciousness without medical treatment and are immediately able to function normally, often without any recollection of the event.
Postictalstate: After your seizure is over, you may feel exhausted or disoriented. You might have a sense of tingling or weakness in part of your body. These postictal symptoms generally resolve within 12 to 24 hours.
Keep in mind that if this is the first time you have experienced weakness of your body after a seizure (or anything else that seems like a postictal state)—or if this is your first seizure—you need to seek medical attention immediately.
What Is Not a Photosensitive Seizure
It is not uncommon to experience visual discomfort or headaches after looking at bright lights or contrasting colors.You also may continue to see afterimages of lights even after the lights are turned off.
Many people become concerned that these experiences could be photosensitive seizures.
However, these common symptoms are not part of a photosensitive seizure. In fact, you might not experience any discomfort or aversion to the visual images before or after having a photosensitive seizure.
What Causes Photosensitive Epilepsy?
There are a number of triggers that can provoke a photosensitive seizure. These seizures have been reported as a result of flashing dance club lights, video games, and moving images (like in a carousel ride).
Animated images seen on a computer screen, television, or movie screen have been reported to provoke photosensitive seizures as well. Unusual causes include bar code scanners, emergency vehicles, and flashing telephone lights.
Seizure Triggers
Your brain functions as a result of electrical activity betweennerve cells. Seizures can occur when there are alterations in the brain’s normal electrical activity.
A number of health and lifestyle factors can provoke a seizure, including alcohol, drugs,fevers,sleep deprivationand others.
How Rare Is Photosensitive Epilepsy?Visual seizures triggers are among the most unusual causes of seizures, affecting about 3% of people diagnosed with epilepsy.In most cases, flashing lights do not cause seizures without epilepsy diagnosed.
How Rare Is Photosensitive Epilepsy?
Visual seizures triggers are among the most unusual causes of seizures, affecting about 3% of people diagnosed with epilepsy.In most cases, flashing lights do not cause seizures without epilepsy diagnosed.
How Photosensitive Seizures Happen
Alternating changes of different colored lights such as deep red and deep blue or lights flickering at a rapid rate of around 12Hz can precipitate photosensitive seizures among some individuals.
For some people, the visual stimuli may produce erratic electrical activity in the occipital lobe, which is the part of the brain that integratesvision. The left and right occipital lobes are located in the farthest posterior (back) region of the brain, right next to each other.
This irregular and hyperactive electrical activity can rapidly spread from the occipital lobe to other regions of the brain, triggering a convulsive seizure and/or loss of consciousness.
Widespread Episode of Photosensitive Seizures
Many people have heard of photosensitive seizures. There was a widely reported occurrence of these seizures on December 16, 1997, when over 700 children and adults in Japan were seen in the hospital for seizures that occurred while watching a cartoon.
Predisposition to Photosensitive Seizures
It isn’t clear why some people with epilepsy have a predisposition to visually-induced seizures. One study found that there may be a relationship between photosensitive epilepsy and the brain’s adaptation to contrasting colors.But it isn’t clear why this occurs.
Seizures and photosensitive epilepsy tend to run in families.Some genes have been found in association with epilepsy, but currently no specific gene has been identified in association with photosensitive epilepsy.
Do Flashing Lights Cause Epilepsy?While exposure to flashing lights or rapidly moving graphics can trigger seizures in someone with photosensitive epilepsy, these stimuli have never been found to cause anyone to develop epilepsy.
Do Flashing Lights Cause Epilepsy?
While exposure to flashing lights or rapidly moving graphics can trigger seizures in someone with photosensitive epilepsy, these stimuli have never been found to cause anyone to develop epilepsy.
Diagnosing Photosensitive Seizures
Your diagnosis is based on your seizure history; your healthcare providers may also order some diagnostic testing to help identify your problem. If you or others who were with you recall that you were exposed to or looking at flashing lights or another visual trigger prior to having a seizure, this could suggest that you had a photosensitive episode.
In some instances, your medical team may expose you to a visual trigger during your EEG examination. The trigger may provoke a seizure, supporting a diagnosis of photosensitive epilepsy.
Visual evoked potential (VEP) testing may also show some characteristic abnormalities, although this is not consistent and not reliably diagnostic of photosensitive epilepsy.
For many people, flashing lights, bright lights, or bright colors can cause headaches, discomfort, dizziness, or eye pain. This is often referred to as photosensitivity orphotophobia.Photophobia is fairly common and it has not been found to be related to photosensitive seizures.
Recognizing Photophobia
Photosensitive Epilepsy Treatment
If you have photosensitive epilepsy, your seizure management will focus on avoiding the visual stimuli that provoke seizures and/or medical treatment with anticonvulsants.
If you have a known seizure trigger, including a visual trigger, try to avoid it. Seizures are not always dangerous but they can be.
You can experience a physical injury as a result of a seizure. And experts suggest that having seizures can make further seizures more likely due to the alterations in the brain’s electrical activity.
Preventing Photosensitivity Seizures
Some recommendations regarding photosensitive seizure prevention include:
If you have recurrent seizures, your healthcare provider may prescribe one or more anticonvulsant medications to prevent them.Your anticonvulsant selection will be based on several factors, including the type of seizure (tonic-clonic, myoclonic, or absence), how often they occur, and whether you take any other medications that could interact with anticonvulsants.
Summary
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Epilepsy Foundation.Reflex epilepsies.Okudan ZV, Özkara Ç.Reflex epilepsy: triggers and management strategies.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:327-337. doi:10.2147/NDT.S107669Epilepsy Foundation.Photosensitivity and seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.Tonic-clonic seizures.Dobesberger J, Ristić AJ, Walser G, et al.Duration of focal complex, secondarily generalized tonic–clonic, and primarily generalized tonic–clonic seizures—A video-EEG analysis.Epilepsy Behav. 2015;49:111-117. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.03.023.Epilepsy Foundation.Myoclonic seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.Absence seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.What happens during a seizure?National Headache Foundation.Light and headache disorders: understanding light triggers and photophobia.Dong B, Holm L, Bao M.Cortical mechanisms for afterimage formation: evidence from interocular grouping.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):41101. doi:10.1038/srep41101Epilepsy Foundation.Triggers of seizures.Hayashi Y, Miura G, Uzawa A, Baba T, Yamamoto S.Case of convulsive seizure developing during electroretinographic recordings: a case report.BMC Neurol. 2018;18(1):52. doi:10.1186/s12883-018-1051-2Brazzo D, Di Lorenzo G, Bill P, et al.Abnormal visual habituation in pediatric photosensitive epilepsy.Clin Neurophysiol.2011 Jan;122(1):16-20. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2010.06.002Epilepsy Foundation (Australia).What is a seizure?van Win OA, Barnes JG, Ferrier CF, Booth F, Prasad AN, Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenite DGA.A study of the significance of photoparoxysmal responses and spontaneous epileptiform discharges in the EEG in childhood epilepsy.Epilepsy Behav. 2020;107:107046. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107046Adcock JE, Panayiotopoulos CP.Occipital lobe seizures and epilepsies.J Clin Neurophysiol. 2012;29(5):397-407. doi:10.1097/WNP.0b013e31826c98feAmerican Association of Neurological Surgeons.Epilepsy.Padmanaban V, Inati S, Ksendzovsky A, Zaghloul K.Clinical advances in photosensitive epilepsy.Brain Res. 2019 Jan 15;1703:18-25. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2018.07.025.Additional ReadingBocci T, Caleo M, Restani L, Barloscio D, Rossi S, Sartucci FAltered recovery from inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in subjects with photosensitive epilepsy.Clin Neurophysiol.2016 Oct;127(10):3353-61. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2016.06.013
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Epilepsy Foundation.Reflex epilepsies.Okudan ZV, Özkara Ç.Reflex epilepsy: triggers and management strategies.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:327-337. doi:10.2147/NDT.S107669Epilepsy Foundation.Photosensitivity and seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.Tonic-clonic seizures.Dobesberger J, Ristić AJ, Walser G, et al.Duration of focal complex, secondarily generalized tonic–clonic, and primarily generalized tonic–clonic seizures—A video-EEG analysis.Epilepsy Behav. 2015;49:111-117. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.03.023.Epilepsy Foundation.Myoclonic seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.Absence seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.What happens during a seizure?National Headache Foundation.Light and headache disorders: understanding light triggers and photophobia.Dong B, Holm L, Bao M.Cortical mechanisms for afterimage formation: evidence from interocular grouping.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):41101. doi:10.1038/srep41101Epilepsy Foundation.Triggers of seizures.Hayashi Y, Miura G, Uzawa A, Baba T, Yamamoto S.Case of convulsive seizure developing during electroretinographic recordings: a case report.BMC Neurol. 2018;18(1):52. doi:10.1186/s12883-018-1051-2Brazzo D, Di Lorenzo G, Bill P, et al.Abnormal visual habituation in pediatric photosensitive epilepsy.Clin Neurophysiol.2011 Jan;122(1):16-20. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2010.06.002Epilepsy Foundation (Australia).What is a seizure?van Win OA, Barnes JG, Ferrier CF, Booth F, Prasad AN, Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenite DGA.A study of the significance of photoparoxysmal responses and spontaneous epileptiform discharges in the EEG in childhood epilepsy.Epilepsy Behav. 2020;107:107046. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107046Adcock JE, Panayiotopoulos CP.Occipital lobe seizures and epilepsies.J Clin Neurophysiol. 2012;29(5):397-407. doi:10.1097/WNP.0b013e31826c98feAmerican Association of Neurological Surgeons.Epilepsy.Padmanaban V, Inati S, Ksendzovsky A, Zaghloul K.Clinical advances in photosensitive epilepsy.Brain Res. 2019 Jan 15;1703:18-25. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2018.07.025.Additional ReadingBocci T, Caleo M, Restani L, Barloscio D, Rossi S, Sartucci FAltered recovery from inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in subjects with photosensitive epilepsy.Clin Neurophysiol.2016 Oct;127(10):3353-61. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2016.06.013
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Epilepsy Foundation.Reflex epilepsies.Okudan ZV, Özkara Ç.Reflex epilepsy: triggers and management strategies.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:327-337. doi:10.2147/NDT.S107669Epilepsy Foundation.Photosensitivity and seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.Tonic-clonic seizures.Dobesberger J, Ristić AJ, Walser G, et al.Duration of focal complex, secondarily generalized tonic–clonic, and primarily generalized tonic–clonic seizures—A video-EEG analysis.Epilepsy Behav. 2015;49:111-117. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.03.023.Epilepsy Foundation.Myoclonic seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.Absence seizures.Epilepsy Foundation.What happens during a seizure?National Headache Foundation.Light and headache disorders: understanding light triggers and photophobia.Dong B, Holm L, Bao M.Cortical mechanisms for afterimage formation: evidence from interocular grouping.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):41101. doi:10.1038/srep41101Epilepsy Foundation.Triggers of seizures.Hayashi Y, Miura G, Uzawa A, Baba T, Yamamoto S.Case of convulsive seizure developing during electroretinographic recordings: a case report.BMC Neurol. 2018;18(1):52. doi:10.1186/s12883-018-1051-2Brazzo D, Di Lorenzo G, Bill P, et al.Abnormal visual habituation in pediatric photosensitive epilepsy.Clin Neurophysiol.2011 Jan;122(1):16-20. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2010.06.002Epilepsy Foundation (Australia).What is a seizure?van Win OA, Barnes JG, Ferrier CF, Booth F, Prasad AN, Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenite DGA.A study of the significance of photoparoxysmal responses and spontaneous epileptiform discharges in the EEG in childhood epilepsy.Epilepsy Behav. 2020;107:107046. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107046Adcock JE, Panayiotopoulos CP.Occipital lobe seizures and epilepsies.J Clin Neurophysiol. 2012;29(5):397-407. doi:10.1097/WNP.0b013e31826c98feAmerican Association of Neurological Surgeons.Epilepsy.Padmanaban V, Inati S, Ksendzovsky A, Zaghloul K.Clinical advances in photosensitive epilepsy.Brain Res. 2019 Jan 15;1703:18-25. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2018.07.025.
Epilepsy Foundation.Reflex epilepsies.
Okudan ZV, Özkara Ç.Reflex epilepsy: triggers and management strategies.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:327-337. doi:10.2147/NDT.S107669
Epilepsy Foundation.Photosensitivity and seizures.
Epilepsy Foundation.Tonic-clonic seizures.
Dobesberger J, Ristić AJ, Walser G, et al.Duration of focal complex, secondarily generalized tonic–clonic, and primarily generalized tonic–clonic seizures—A video-EEG analysis.Epilepsy Behav. 2015;49:111-117. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.03.023.
Epilepsy Foundation.Myoclonic seizures.
Epilepsy Foundation.Absence seizures.
Epilepsy Foundation.What happens during a seizure?
National Headache Foundation.Light and headache disorders: understanding light triggers and photophobia.
Dong B, Holm L, Bao M.Cortical mechanisms for afterimage formation: evidence from interocular grouping.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):41101. doi:10.1038/srep41101
Epilepsy Foundation.Triggers of seizures.
Hayashi Y, Miura G, Uzawa A, Baba T, Yamamoto S.Case of convulsive seizure developing during electroretinographic recordings: a case report.BMC Neurol. 2018;18(1):52. doi:10.1186/s12883-018-1051-2
Brazzo D, Di Lorenzo G, Bill P, et al.Abnormal visual habituation in pediatric photosensitive epilepsy.Clin Neurophysiol.2011 Jan;122(1):16-20. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2010.06.002
Epilepsy Foundation (Australia).What is a seizure?
van Win OA, Barnes JG, Ferrier CF, Booth F, Prasad AN, Kasteleijn-Nolst Trenite DGA.A study of the significance of photoparoxysmal responses and spontaneous epileptiform discharges in the EEG in childhood epilepsy.Epilepsy Behav. 2020;107:107046. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107046
Adcock JE, Panayiotopoulos CP.Occipital lobe seizures and epilepsies.J Clin Neurophysiol. 2012;29(5):397-407. doi:10.1097/WNP.0b013e31826c98fe
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Epilepsy.
Padmanaban V, Inati S, Ksendzovsky A, Zaghloul K.Clinical advances in photosensitive epilepsy.Brain Res. 2019 Jan 15;1703:18-25. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2018.07.025.
Bocci T, Caleo M, Restani L, Barloscio D, Rossi S, Sartucci FAltered recovery from inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in subjects with photosensitive epilepsy.Clin Neurophysiol.2016 Oct;127(10):3353-61. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2016.06.013
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