Cross polarised spectacles in photosensitive epilepsy

Editor,—Photosensitive epilepsy was first reported by Gowers in 1885 who described a girl who had attacks when going into bright sunshine, and a man who had a visual aura of bright blue lights and subsequent fitting evoked by looking at a bright light.1 The first report of epileptic seizures caused by watching television was made by Livingstone in 1952, and since then numerous cases have been documented.1

Almost 10% of newly diagnosed cases of epilepsy in 7–19 year olds demonstrate photosensitivity on electroencephalogram (EEG) and have seizures triggered by watching television or by computer games.2 Photosensitive epilepsy can usually be controlled by sodium valproate3; however, an important part of management of this condition is the avoidance of stimuli that provoke the fit.