Can games trigger Epilepsy ?

[jugster42]

AS I am epileptic this is really interesting .. Its a bit of read, but knowledge is power... :) The article is little out of date, (2008) but from what I can tell still relevant.. 

 

 

http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/campaigns/previous-surveys/2008/video-games

 

 

I bring this up as I found that an F18 Fighter Pilot is suing Bethesda Software as he is alleging that playing elder scrolls caused him to have a fit and permanently loose his flight status. O.o..

 

From my point of view, I had 2 grand mal seizure when I was 12, but have been playing computer games for 28 years havent had a fit since,so I doubt its the games that caused mine.. 

 

What do you think ? do you have any experience of this?

 

Jugster... 

[Helepolis]

Epilepsy is usually caused through genetics of some sort of trauma whether it be physical or just crazy amounts of stress which can vary per person. What effects one epileptic person will not affect another I.e flashing screens. I highly doubt playing a game would have caused him to be epileptic (though it can still cause seizures and discomfort to some). I Honest doubt he has a cause, usually that sort of stuff is covered EULA. Very difficult to prove that that specific game could cause epilepsy, more than likely a trigger than anything for something that may have been dormant all these years.

[CouchSloth]

My GF has epilepsy as did my sister. From both I haven't seen evidence that they do cause seizures. But the basic premise is that strobing lights can trigger an epileptic fit. It is obviously down to the individual as to how much effect this can have. Now with video games it is the fast changing light sources in the images that can cause this. With my GF she hasn't had a seizure since I've been living with her (over 3 years) but she does often feel the possible onset of a seizure. It is normally related to over tiredness and excess exersion. At this point she must lie down and rest. Obviously if she is in such a tired state playing video games with light patterns quickly changing this could also potentially trigger a seizure. It's really down to the individual as to how bad their epilepsy is and learning to manage it with the help of their doctor.

 

As for this pilot suing after having a seizure and thus loosing his flight status, sounds to me he played for far to long. If he never knew he had epilepsy before this I would almost guarantee he had it all his life and this one event triggered it. I would also suggest that if he read the terms and conditions for the game it would state somewhere there was a risk of an epilepsy seizure for those at risk.

 

Play in moderation and have regular checkups with your doctor. Everything in moderation. Enjoy gaming.

[Helepolis]

My GF has epilepsy as did my sister. From both I haven't seen evidence that they do cause seizures. But the basic premise is that strobing lights can trigger an epileptic fit. It is obviously down to the individual as to how much effect this can have. Now with video games it is the fast changing light sources in the images that can cause this. With my GF she hasn't had a seizure since I've been living with her (over 3 years) but she does often feel the possible onset of a seizure. It is normally related to over tiredness and excess exersion. At this point she must lie down and rest. Obviously if she is in such a tired state playing video games with light patterns quickly changing this could also potentially trigger a seizure. It's really down to the individual as to how bad their epilepsy is and learning to manage it with the help of their doctor.

 

As for this pilot suing after having a seizure and thus loosing his flight status, sounds to me he played for far to long. If he never knew he had epilepsy before this I would almost guarantee he had it all his life and this one event triggered it. I would also suggest that if he read the terms and conditions for the game it would state somewhere there was a risk of an epilepsy seizure for those at risk.

 

Play in moderation and have regular checkups with your doctor. Everything in moderation. Enjoy gaming.

 Mhmm exactly. Just unfortunate for some who have it really bad. I once dated a girl with epilepsy and it's really saddening knowing what they have to live with. I think she usually had 1-3 seconds to get herself in a safe position before she went out, always  a very short and mild duration but still not pleasant for her or anyone to experience. She at most went 2 weeks without one and at most 2 a day. Swear she was gong to crush my hand sometimes.

[Aphexx]

I'm pretty sure it was pokemon that triggered that triggered that first famous seizure even that got press in the early 2000's 

[naca1227]

I'm pretty sure it was pokemon that triggered that triggered that first famous seizure even that got press in the early 2000's 

Porygon. Pokemon has a lot of controversy in general

[HunterTheHusky]

What you are maybe thinking of is maybe something called "Photosensitive Eplilepsy". It is something which is scrawled on game boxes and manuals warning players with a history of epilepsy to maybe think twice before playing. I do not know much about it but I am sure you will be able to get an idea from here.