What is photosensitive epilepsy?
Photosensitive epilepsy is a type of reflex epilepsy (RE) where seizures are caused by a specific trigger. Photosensitive epilepsy, is a common form of RE, affecting about five percent of people with epilepsy. Photosensitive epilepsy is not the same as epilepsy syndrome, which is a seizure disorder causing spontaneous seizures.
Common triggers for photosensitive epilepsy include flashing lights from TV, computer games, concerts, or moving light patterns. How bad the seizures are and how long they last can be influenced by the frequency, type, and color of the stimulus.
Photosensitive epilepsy is typically a genetic condition and more often affects younger women.