Working with computers

Most people with epilepsy use computers with no risk of them triggering a seizure.

Around five per cent of all people with epilepsy have seizures which are triggered by flashing or flickering lights. This is called photosensitive epilepsy. This type of epilepsy usually shows up during an EEG test, so if you are unsure if you have this, you can ask your GP or neurologist if they can tell you.

If you don’t have photosensitive epilepsy

If you do not have photosensitive epilepsy, working on computers should not cause you a problem as far as your epilepsy is concerned.

If you do have photosensitive epilepsy

If you do have photosensitive epilepsy, you need to consider the risks of a seizure that may be caused by the images that you look at on the computer screen.

Looking at high contrast, flashing, flickering or repetitive patterns on any kind of computer screen may increase the risk of a seizure. For example, you may come across this problem if you do certain design work or watch a DVD on your computer.

Many software packages that are used in the workplace, such as Microsoft Office, do not use high contrast, flickering or repetitive patterns. These should not cause you a problem if you have photosensitive epilepsy.

Many people believe that the flickering of the actual computer screen may trigger seizures. However, if you have photosensitive epilepsy, you may be sensitive to light patterns which flicker between three and 60 times per second (3 – 60 Hertz). Most people are sensitive to rates between 16Hz and 25Hz. Most modern computer screens flicker at a faster rate than this, so they should not trigger seizures in most people with photosensitive epilepsy.

You should be aware that images on a flat screen monitor are sharper and brighter than on a ‘box’ monitor. If you have photosensitive epilepsy and look at high contrast patterns on this type of screen, there is a higher risk of seizure happening. This risk can be minimised by reducing the brightness of the screen.

Recent research from the Epilepsy Research Foundation (October 2006) suggests that if you have photosensitive epilepsy, you are not at risk of seizures when you use a computer for a typical work task.

Anti-glare screens

Anti-glare screens can help to reduce the glare that comes from computer screens. However, they do not reduce the flicker rate, so they would not be of specific benefit to you if you have photosensitive epilepsy.

See also

• Photosensitive epilepsy

Last updated 2 May 2007