LED lighting and Epilepsy

[essiyote]

I don't have epilepsy. I'm a lighting engineer and am interested in the effect of LED lighting on people who have epilepsy. I had not heard this was a problem until I spoke to a man yesterday whose wife is dramatically effected by both LED lighting and modern fluorescent lighting. I would like to ask others on this site if they have ever experienced similar symptoms.

There is a great push by the Department of Energy and the lighting industry to adopt LED lighting. LEDs are by nature monochromatic light. A polychromatic "white" light is created, generally, by shining a blue LED through a phosphor impregnated epoxy cap that's formed over the diode. It has already been shown that the particular wavelength produced by blue LEDs (460-480nm) can have an effect on the circadian system and the regulation of melatonin production by the pituitary gland. I was curious to know if people with epilepsy experience a negative effect from this type of lighting.

Additionally, modern fluorescent fixtures are designed to operate at frequencies greater than 50,000 cycles per second (Hz). The old style fluorescents were designed to operate at 60 Hz. this is the frequency of the nation wide power system in the US and is, coincidentally the natural frequency of the human body's electrical system. I can understand how the old style fluorescents would be a problem for someone with epilepsy. I was wondering if the newer style fluorescent lighting is still a problem. (You can recognize the newer fluorescents by the skinny light bulbs used in the fixture).

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me make my designs more user friendly.

[Endless]

Welcome to the forum! I'm very glad you found us. It would improve a lot of lives if lights were no longer a trigger for people with a seizure disorder.

Lighting is an interesting topic. Not all people with seizures are photosensitive. Some are, some aren't. And those that are can all be set off my different frequencies or types of lights.

For some reason I have a huge amount of trouble in some of the big stores like target, Ikea, and walmart. I have no trouble with the lighting in most department stores like Macys. I do have trouble with it being visually busy. It makes me get in and out very quickly or it will be a trigger.

I have fluorescent lights at home and have no problem whatsoever. I wonder if it is the type of bulb, or if it is because they are behind a shade. If the shade has something to do with it, that has possibilities to make it more tolerable.

For me it doesn't have to be lighting. Ceiling fans at exactly the right speed can set me off. Also certain patterns in fabric, art, etc.

I've tried sunglasses. It helps some people. Doesn't help me. Bathing light in some kind of filter may possibly help some.

I think it would take some trial and error. Maybe passive measurement. Keep track of any seizures that happen when exposed to the lighting solution in question, and ccompare the numbers between lighting types. That is, if you have an experimental building and population you can use. It's hard to identify photosensitive people - you usually can't ask that question in the workplace. If you knew who they are you could ask them if they feel "weird" around certain lights or lighting solutions. Many of us that are photosensitve get that "weird" feeling when exposed to trigger lighting.

Approximately 1 in 100 people has epilepsy. Three to 5 percent of people with epilepsy are photosensitive. Keep in mind that of those 3-5%, each may be triggered by a different frequency. That sould give you an idea on sample size. Big.

http://www.epilepsy.com/articles/ar_1140702445

[BlueSkies2220]

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