So many of us can..but so many of us can not. For about 3% of people with epilepsy, exposure to flashing lights at certain intensities or to certain visual patterns can trigger seizures. You think now “then why the warning in the movie theaters?”. Have you ever heard of photosensitivity? No, well I am not honestly surprised and if you have then great please share the meaning with others. Now the word and its meaning: Photosensitivity is the amount to which an object reacts upon receiving photons, especially visible light. In medicine, the term is principally used for abnormal reactions of the skin, and two types are distinguished, photoallergy and phototoxicity. Photosensitive epilepsy (PSE) is a form of epilepsy in which seizures are triggered by visual stimuli that form patterns in time or space, such as flashing lights; bold, regular patterns; or regular moving patterns. PSE affects approximately one in 4,000 people (5% of those with epilepsy).

Seizures in photosensitive people may be triggered by exposure to some of the following situations:

• Television screens or computer monitors due to the flicker or rolling images.
• Certain video games or TV broadcasts containing rapid flashes or alternating patterns of different colors.
• Intense strobe lights like visual fire alarms.
• Natural light, such as sunlight, especially when shimmering off water, flickering through trees or through the slats of Venetian blinds.
• Certain visual patterns, especially stripes of contrasting colors.
• Some people wonder whether flashing lights on the top of buses or emergency vehicles may trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy too.
• Driving with the lights from car street lights have been able to set off because its like a flickering light as the person drives or goes by

Not all televisions, video games, computer monitors, and strobe lights trigger seizures, however. Even in predisposed individuals, many factors must combine to trigger the photosensitive reaction. Examples include:

• Frequency of the flash (that is, how quickly the light is flashing)
• Brightness
• Contrast with background lighting
• Distance between the viewer and the light source
• Wavelength of the light
• Whether a person’s eyes are open or closed (depends on the person)

The frequency or speed of flashing light that is most likely to cause seizures varies from person to person. Generally, flashing lights most likely to trigger seizures are between the frequency of 5 to 30 flashes per second (Hertz). The likelihood of such conditions combining to trigger a seizure is small, however can happen. PLEASE DO NOT TRY AND MAKE ONE HAPPEN ON PURPOSE THESE ARE NOT A JOKE!!!

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