Can computer games cause epilepsy?

No. The Consumer Safety Unit of the governmental department formally known as the Department of Trade and Industry, together with the National Epilepsy Society, has carried out exhaustive study into this area, which found that epilepsy cannot be caused by playing computer games.

The report has shown that an extremely small number of people, who already have Photosensitive Epilepsy, might discover their condition by playing games, just as they could discover it by watching television, from disco lights, or light flickering through trees. Symptoms may include light-headedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury from falling or striking nearby objects. 

It is recommended that you immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the above symptoms. Children and teenagers are more likely than adults to experience these seizures.

To reduce the risk of Photosensitive Epileptic seizures please:
· Consult your doctor prior to playing videogames if there is a history of Photosensitive Epilepsy in your family
· Sit farther from the television screen
· Use a smaller television screen
· Play in a well-lit room
· Avoid playing when you feel drowsy or fatigued