German Study Reports Computer Monitors Do Not Trigger Photosensitive Seizures

By EpilepsyUSA staff
Posted: March 10, 2006

According to Ulrich Specht, M.D., of the Bethel Epilepsy Centre in Bielefeld, Germany, patients with epilepsy – even photosensitive patients – can use computer monitors without fear of having a seizure. The results of his study, which were presented recently at the 59 th annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society in Washington, D.C., report modern computer monitors have high refresh frequencies, of at least 75 Hz or more, and photosensitive patients "may not necessarily be at increased risk of seizures at such a setting."

To come to his conclusion, Specht and his colleagues studied 12 patients who underwent EEG tests and demonstrated epileptiform discharges provoked by intermittent photic stimulation, that is, photosensitive seizures. The experiment involved three stages: First, a resting period; second, tests involving reading and editing text at a personal computer; and third, reading and editing similar text printed on white paper. No seizure occurred during the study, and the duration of the epileptiform discharges were marginally shorter while patients edited text on the computer, rather than on the paper.

"Since duration of epileptiform discharges is linked to clinical seizures in patients with epilepsy, our study does not give any evidence for an increased risk of seizure precipitation in these patients," Specht said.

"I'm thrilled to see serious studies like this being performed to help us better understand the problem and to help us eliminate unjustified concerns in the workplace that may result in unfair exclusion of qualified workers," said Giuseppe Erba, M.D., of the University of Rochester and a former member of the Epilepsy Foundation's professional advisory board. "Certain technological advances – like the high refresh rate screens that have become available for personal computers and televisions – protect people with photosensitivity. However, other technological advances – like the virtual reality in DVDs and video games – have created new problems and have made this population more vulnerable."