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.
Could CRT Computer Monitors Induce A Seizure?
Sat, 02/05/2005 - 16:17Hi All,
I'm new to this forum, and new to the world of epilepsy. First off, got to say that this is a great resource =)
I'm a few months shy of being 28, and had my first definate seizure in Janurary of this year. I then had another seizure on May 29th which is what prompted me to seek medical attention. I've had CT Scans, an MRI, and a normal as well as a sleep deprived EEG and am still to see my doctor about the sleep deprived EEG and MRI which I had recently. I have only seen a specialist once so far and he told me that he thought it was epilepsy originating in the temporal lobe. While I was shocked, there was a link as my father had been diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 42, although he would become unconcious during his seizures where as I've been reasonably aware of what's going on during both of mine.
My Story
Summary of my story to date is that when I had my first seizure I was sick at the time with the flu and was positive that I was suffering hallucinations as a result of the flu medicine as the seizure started about 20~30 minutes after I had taken it. As I had never experienced anything remotely like this before there was no doubt in my mind at the time that what I had experienced was as a result of the flu medicine so i didn't do anything about it. 4 months later while entering the local shopping center to get my hair cut I got a strange feeling of being detached from reality, I then encounted what best could be described as a flashback (although I don't take any drugs). I recognised the feelings straight away, but as I was positive the first instance was caused by some dodgy medicine I decided to keep going.
About 30 odd minutes later, just as I was finishing getting my haircut, I had another one, and then another, but so much more intense this time. Up until then I had been able to "control" my actions and behaviour by concentrating and had been able to keep myself in the real world capable of holding conversations and doing things while they were happening. Not this time. My hairdresser stopped mid cut ans said, "you don't look too good", and to be honest I was close to fainting as one of the most intense episodes that made up my seizures had just past. Still I persisted on going on, and finished getting my hair cut. The ladies at the haridressers looked after me and got me a cool drink and something to eat, and I did feel better when my girlfriend came to pick me up. We left the shopping center and I explained to my girlfriend what had been happening, and I was just hoping that I had seen the last. No luck, I had had another episode before we left the shopping center car park. Anyway, to cut a long story short (or shorter at least) the episodes increased in frequency so that where happening once every few minutes, so we though it was time to take myself to the emergency room at hospital.
My Seizures
My seizures are uncommon to everyone I have spoken to that has epilepsy. This only constitutes a handful of people so I won't draw too much from it. Both my seizures have consisted of many small episodes of the same basic structure that have increased both in intensity and frequency until I reached what I called the epileptic climax. After that they seemed to decrease in frequency and intensity until they had gone altogether, leaving me very tired and exhausted.
The episodes that made up my seizures consisted firstly a strange feeling of being detached from reality, then a jumble of images, both moving (like a film) and still going through my head that I had no control over what so ever, and I could not distinguish if these were actual memories of things I had done, things I had dreamt, imagined or had seen on some TV show. It doesn't sound that bad, but the fact I had no control made it quite an unpleasant experience. I can't even remember what they were exactly, just that none of them were violent or grotesque (my doc asked me this so I thought I'd put it in), what I do remember is that they all felt somewhat familar to me, like a dream or a distant memory that you couldn't quite place. Once this hallucination stopped a feeling of falling followed along with dry reaching, head spins, sweating and generally feeling quite faint. All this lasted as best as I could tell about 30 seconds to a minute each. Each seizure lasted several hours and consisted of dozens of these individual episodes, the first lasted about 5 hours, and the second lasted about 8 hours. Apart from the most intense episodes during my second seizure I was still able to do everything as I normally could if I concentrated, although I was feeling quie uncomfortable. Another constant feeling I have only had as far as I can remember since my first seizure is a constant tired feeling behind, and just below my eyes. A good sleep seems to lessen this a little, but half an hour into my day and the discomfort is back there again. I have not seen this last feeling described in any of the epilepsy literature II have read to date.
My Environment At The Time
During my first seizure I was unemployed, and was spending excessive amounts of time infront of my CRT based computer monitor. When I had my second seizure I was actually employed, but being a systems administrator I was again spending huge amounts of time infront of a CRT based computer monitor. I'm talking between 10 and 14 hours a day, and geberally no less than 3 or 4, even on the weekend.
Could Seizures Be Induced By CRT Monitors
I never made the connection at first, as being told you have epilepsy and hearing about how it is going to change your life is quite a bit to take in at first. The idea actually came to me when having my first EEG when I had the flashing light stuck in my face. CRT monitors operate in a very similar fashion. They manipulate three electron beams (red, green, blue) in a single stream, and effectively paint the image we see from side to side, one line at a time. An entire screen is usually painted at a minimum of 60Hz (60 times a second) on modern monitors, but a strobing/flashing effect can still be seen to the human eye at this speed. I usually try and keep this refresh rate at or above 85Hz (85 times a second). Even though at a higher frequency, this strobing effect is still there.
Anyway, the one thing that I have been able to draw from both my seizures is that I was using computers excessively during these periods. I also suspect that this is the reason for the discomfort behind the eyes (no big suprises there I think). My thought is that in my case that my seizures may well have been induced by this excessive use, and wondered if anyone else working with computers a lot could draw any parallels with my symptoms. Even though I am yet to do any serious research, or even ask my secialist about it, I think I am going to get my CRT monitors both at work and at home replaced with LCD monitors and make some adjustments to my lifestle so that I am not spending anymore than 10 hours a day (for a start) infront of them. When it comes to my peepers, I 'm just not prepared to take any chances.
Comments
RE: Could CRT Computer Monitors Induce A Seizure?
Submitted by blueeyes on Tue, 2005-03-01 - 10:39
Spend a lot of time looking
Submitted by fuvk u on Mon, 2018-12-10 - 11:30
- Spend a lot of time looking at screens every day
- Are struggling with symptoms of digital eye strain
- Have trouble falling asleep at night
- Regularly work after the sun goes down
- Are concerned about keeping your body and eyes healthy https://www.pixeleyewear.com/pages/blue-light-glasses Here is a website I looked up for my son, (age20), who has Epilepsy since he was 17. He recently stayed on the computer 10-18 hours while he was sick and just recently had another seizure. I can't convince my son not to stay on the computer for this long. I have to disconnect the wifi. I notice that Dell and Amazon make screen covers also. I wear the glasses myself because my eyes will water and I will get a small headache, however, I do not have epilepsy. Thanks for sharing your information.
- Spend a lot of time looking at screens every day
- Are struggling with symptoms of digital eye strain
- Have trouble falling asleep at night
- Regularly work after the sun goes down
- Are concerned about keeping your body and eyes healthy https://www.pixeleyewear.com/pages/blue-light-glasses Here is a website I looked up for my son, (age20), who has Epilepsy since he was 17. He recently stayed on the computer 10-18 hours while he was sick and just recently had another seizure. I can't convince my son not to stay on the computer for this long. I have to disconnect the wifi. I notice that Dell and Amazon make screen covers also. I wear the glasses myself because my eyes will water and I will get a small headache, however, I do not have epilepsy. Thanks for sharing your information.
RE: RE: RE: RE: Could CRT Computer Monitors Induce A Seizure?
Submitted by spidercramp on Fri, 2005-02-25 - 23:52
Things are VERY bad for me now:I am complaining in the utmost disgust at the treatment I have received under the NHS.In March 04 I had to stop work as I was experiencing regular attacks that left meunable to work. As the year went on I suffered from more and more attacks which leftme extremely agoraphobic. In July my GP Dr Jenks applied for me to get seen by PaulDavis at the Northampton Hospital for Neurological treatment for my worseningcondition. In November she received a letter stating I had not responded to my appointment, thatis when it was found my appointment had been sent to the address I lived at 8 YEARS ago,she then claimed she would apply for me to see Paul Davis again.In January I started to suffer from constant headache in my left lobe, this headache has becomeworse and worse yet I have received NO treatment or test for it, I was only given co-codimine whichhas actually made me worse and I had to stop taking it, my eyesight has also worsend so much thattyping this is hard as I have constant cross vision which worsens with the pain in my head..In mid February the pain of the headache increased incredibly, I now suffer from a buildup ofpressure in my brain every 30 minutes that leaves me in utter pain, my eyesight has also becomebadly effected. I phoned the hospital on the 21st of Feb to find out when I would see the Neurologistas the pain my head was in was excruciating and discovered that the Hospital had never heard of aletter from my GP to see the Neurologist.That night I had incredible pain in my head and stabbing pain in my chest, I was taken intoA&E, after initial tests proved negative the consultant on that night said I should see a Neurologistbut that I would have to do it through my GP.Still nothing has happened, still I am getting worse, suffering from incredible headache pain every halfand hour and still I am waiting to be seen. WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT?