Photosensitivity Guidelines

If you are diagnosed with photosensitive epilepsy, your doctor may prescribe medication and suggest that you:

1. avoid exposure to certain kinds of flashing lights; and
2. cover one eye and turn away from the direct light source when in the presence of flashing lights.

You may also wish to discuss with your doctor whether the following tips suggested by photosensitivity and epilepsy experts would be helpful to you:

Visual Fire Alarm Strobe Lights

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, most workplaces and places serving the public, including theaters, restaurants and recreation areas, are required to have fire alarms, which flash as well as ring. This alerts people who cannot hear or cannot hear well that there is an emergency.

To reduce the likelihood of the strobe light triggering a seizure, the Epilepsy Foundation’s professional advisory board recommends that the flash rate be kept to under 2 Hertz with breaks every so often between flashes.

Also, flashing lights should be placed at a distance from each other and set to flash in unison to avoid an increase in the number of individual flashes.

Television Screens

• Watch television in a well-lit room.
• Reduce the brightness of the screen.
• Keep as far back from the screen as possible.
• Use the remote control to change channels on the TV so you won’t have to get too close to the set.
• Avoid watching for long periods of time.
• Wear polarized sunglasses while viewing to reduce glare.
  
  

Video Games

• Sit at least 2 feet from the screen in a well-lit room.
• Reduce the brightness of the screen.
• Do not let children play video games if they are tired.
• Take frequent breaks from the games.
• 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, alternating which eye is covered at regular intervals.
• Turn the game off if strange or unusual feelings or body jerks develop.
  
  

Computer Monitors

• Use a flicker-free monitor (LCD display or flat screen).
• Use a monitor glare guard.
• Wear non-glare glasses to reduce glare from the screen.
• Take frequent breaks from tasks involving the computer.
  
  

Exposure to Environmental Lights

Cover one eye (either one) with one hand until the stimulus is over. Closing both eyes or turning your eyes in another direction will not help.