Epilepsy And Computer Monitors

[Ramon]

Hello,

My 18 years old brother is epileptic and he want to be a software engineer. His doctors doesnt advise him looking and sitting any screen, specially computer monitors. What do you recommend for him?

 

[Nakamova]

Hi Ramon --

A lot of the issues with seizure-related photosensitivity have to do with the refresh rate of the monitor, or with flashing/strobing content, or with fatigue and eyestrain as secondary factors. If none of these are problems for your brother, then being a software engineer won't be problematic. Additionally, if your brother's seizures are currently fully-controlled, then he should also be okay in working in the software field.

If his seizures aren't currently controlled, and he finds looking at monitors to be triggering in any way, then he might want to reconsider his career choice.

 

[Maisy]

Tbh done alot of research into this because of the tills at work, most info actually refers too the older. Type monitors, as above it about refresh rate etc, but LCD monitors don't usually cause problems

 

[jayde-101]

I too want to know this ... We use tills at work that are touch screen and Im trying to figure out if its them Thats causing my seizures

Touch screen till anyone ?

 

[Maisy]

Yes jayde, why I researched something too do with the hertz rate can't remember exact numbers but if you google it, I just agreed with my manager never do mire than an hour on the till without a break, seems too work

 

[JaneC]

Hi Ramon is your brother definitely photosensitive? Not everybody who has epilepsy is.

 

[AndrewIrish]

I'm just trying to figure out what a 'till' is, lol.

 

[Nakamova]

"till" = cash register.

 

[Wobblez]

This is interesting. I wonder if the lotto machine and cash registers at work are setting me off, i always feel unwell at work and often have to steady myself or hold on to something for a second. We are also incredibly busy all the time so there is a lot of "looking" from the lotto machine, to the till, to the customer etc.

 

[Janus]

YES, WHERE I WORK (VOLUNTEER ) IS AT THE LOCAL FOOD COOP. I cashier I love it and just getting a discount on natural food is a big bonus. But now, we just started a new system of touch screen 'tills' I love my time there and feel good but this does concern me..

 

[kirsten]

I had a technician put a computer together that was less likely to cause photosensitive seizures. He put it together as he would have for a graphic designer with serious graphic needs. The refresh rate needs to be higher rather than lower. You need an HD digital monitor with an HDMI cable. The best refresh rates currently come from monitors with 4k compatibility. The resolution needs to end in 'p' rather than 'i' as the former keeps the image on the screen constantly, whilst the latter only shows half the image at a time, causing a slowing of refresh rates. Since I got my special PC, I've not had a seizure in front of my monitor, which I work in front of all day every day.

 

[SlimBlue]

Hi Ramon, I'm a software engineer and very occasionally I have broblems with old bulky CRT monitors, but I can't say I've noticed any with high-rez LCD/LEDs.

One thing I would say tho, s/e is usually an extremely stressfull, high pressure job - especially if he wants to earn big bucks and be a contractor - so if he's anything like me, it'll be the stress/tiredness that is the biggest trigger for his epilepsy...

 

[skyfire322]

I sit in front of a computer for about 10 hours a day between work and home. I don't know if it actually works or not, but I have heard some neurologists prescribing special lenses for people with photosensitve epilepsy. Also, I've heard that lowering the brightness and also fiddling around with the contrast color settings on monitors also help. I haven't tried wearing sunglasses, but adjusting the settings on the monitor seem to help a little bit.

Again, I'm not sure if this works or not because people have different sensitivities when it comes to photosensitivity. It is worth asking the neurologist though.