Other Light TriggersĪ flashing light is just one potential trigger. If they see an electrical buildup on the monitor they know to turn off the lights. Technicians usually alert patients about the potential for a reaction and monitor for it. As part of a routine EEG, a strobe light flashes at different frequencies while a technician monitors the recording. Most people who've been diagnosed with epilepsy undergo an electroencephalogram (EEG), which has its own flashing light. Many people are unaware of a sensitivity to flickering lights or certain patterns until they have a seizure. Due to a condition called photosensitive epilepsy, lights can trigger seizures in one in 10,000 adults and one in 4,000 children and adolescents. Fisher, MD, PhD, FAAN, responds:įor about 3 percent of people with epilepsy, exposure to flashing lights at certain intensities or certain visual patterns can trigger seizures, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Ask Your Neurologist October/November 2017Ĭan a Bright Light or Strobe Light Cause a Seizure?