Television

Watching television is a common trigger for photosensitive seizures. The nearer you are to the screen the more likely it is to trigger a seizure. This is because a larger area of your eye’s retina is stimulated by the flicker of the picture, which increases the risk of a seizure.

If you sit close to the screen you can see the 25 Hz flicker of the lines as well as the 50 Hz mains flicker on the screen as a whole. It is common for people with photosensitive epilepsy to be sensitive to 25 Hz, so it makes sense to sit well back from the television to reduce the risk of seizures.

Some pictures shown on the screen can also make seizures more likely to occur. For example, if there is a particular combination of colour and flicker, or where there are many press photographers using flash photography all at the same time.

New types of television

100 Hz televisions

100 Hz televisions are unlikely to trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy.

Plasma or liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions

Plasma and LCD screens do not use the scanning lines of other televisions and are therefore less likely to trigger seizures. However, plasma screens tend to be brighter, with high contrast. This could make seizures more likely for some people with photosensitive epilepsy.

If you are choosing between these types of screens, and you have photosensitive epilepsy, the current advice is to buy an LCD.

Precautions when watching television

• Watch the television in a well-lit room.
• Have a small, lit lamp on top of, or close to the television.
• Don’t sit too close to the television. Watch from a distance of at least 2.5 metres (8 feet).
• Use the remote control wherever possible – from a safe distance - to adjust the television or to change channels.
• If you have to go near the television, cover one of your eyes with the palm of your hand. This will cut down the number of brain cells that are stimulated by any flicker on the screen.

Information updated June 2007