Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
What do flickering/flashing lights do to you?
Sat, 05/16/2009 - 19:24What effect do flickering or flashing lights have on you? Can you describe a bit how you feel when you encounter them and what happens to you?
Does everyone with epilepsy have a reaction to them? Is everyone photosensitive in this way or is photosensitive just one specific type, and there are others who are not bothered by what they see?
Comments
Re: What do flickering/flashing lights do to you?
Submitted by Tina Davis on Mon, 2009-05-18 - 16:42
Hi... I recently had an EEG, and although the white fluro lights in stores bother me, I had no reaction to the strobe in the test - must mean the medication is working - yay! I do find my eyes are very sensitive to light tho, particularly in movie theaters and during live performances where the audience is sitting in the dark and the lights are thrown up on stage. If I'm in a store and there's a flickering light I don't hang around to see what will happen. Safety first I think.
I do have a friend tho who is very sensitive. She can't even be near flash photography because that sets her off. It is such a strange thing and so random. I think we all have to be wary of it.
Hi... I recently had an EEG, and although the white fluro lights in stores bother me, I had no reaction to the strobe in the test - must mean the medication is working - yay! I do find my eyes are very sensitive to light tho, particularly in movie theaters and during live performances where the audience is sitting in the dark and the lights are thrown up on stage. If I'm in a store and there's a flickering light I don't hang around to see what will happen. Safety first I think.
I do have a friend tho who is very sensitive. She can't even be near flash photography because that sets her off. It is such a strange thing and so random. I think we all have to be wary of it.
Re: What do flickering/flashing lights do to you?
Submitted by tonialpha on Mon, 2009-05-18 - 19:01
When working w./ patients in hospitals the computer screens w/ give me headaches and then I could not focus and my friends said I would get up and walk and flap my hands. My friends said oh it was a subtle sz. One of neurologist told me to use my sunglasses in 80's and that helped. (apparently the screens flicker) I also did EEG's and at times I would look away at the light and watch the paper to see if there was any abn. of the patient or where my sunglasses. As the computers etc. got better I did not need my glasses. I still where copper lenses for my computer. It really seams to help my eyes. It may be an individual need.
I have sz caused by stress, illness, forgetting to take on time, etc but from specific flickering things I cannot say.
When working w./ patients in hospitals the computer screens w/ give me headaches and then I could not focus and my friends said I would get up and walk and flap my hands. My friends said oh it was a subtle sz. One of neurologist told me to use my sunglasses in 80's and that helped. (apparently the screens flicker) I also did EEG's and at times I would look away at the light and watch the paper to see if there was any abn. of the patient or where my sunglasses. As the computers etc. got better I did not need my glasses. I still where copper lenses for my computer. It really seams to help my eyes. It may be an individual need.
I have sz caused by stress, illness, forgetting to take on time, etc but from specific flickering things I cannot say.
Re: What do flickering/flashing lights do to you?
Submitted by azonababe06 on Mon, 2009-05-18 - 15:49
I get incredibly dizzy. The movie theatre can really bug me. I won't even go into clubs/bars or if I do my friends guide me so I can close my eyes. I begin to feel like I am going to have an aura. They didn't use to bug me when I was younger but now they don't stop. I wasn't diagnosed with any special photosensitivity but my doctor told me it can definately have an effect. I also live in an apartment with my fiance and someone either above or below us smokes marijuana. It is so hard for me to smell it and I most of the time get an aura from it. The apartment complex though keeps saying there is nothing they can do about it. I even had my regular tonic-clonic seizure in my apartment due to it!