Christmas lights may induce photosensitive epilepsy

Flashing Christmas lights can cause photosensitive epilepsy, the Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association has warned.

The association said that local councils, establishments, shops and the public should be senstive to the effects of flashing fairy lights on persons with photosensitive epilepsy.

"Various types of seizures may be triggered by flashing or flickering lights, or lights opening and closing in some shapes or patterns.

"While both natural and artificial light may provoke seizures, control may be exercised over the flickering of artificial lights by persons who put up decorative lights," it said.

The association said that most people with photosensitive epilepsy were sensitive to lights that flashed 16-25 times per second. Some people could be sensitive to rates as low as three flashes per second and as high as 60.

While some people were aware of the possibility of inducing photosensitive epilepsy through flash photography, certain computer games and television programmes, few realised that flashing Christmas lights in public places could also cause photosensitive epilepsy.

The association referred to the recent report published by the EU Commission which stated that random sampling had revealed that 30 percent of tested lights presented health hazards, and said that the main risks highlighted were from electric shocks and fire outbreaks.

It pointed out that inducing photosensitive epilepsy was also a health and safety issue, and that Christmas lights should not flicker at a rate which could trigger seizures in the vast majority of people with photosensitive epilepsy.