Could you benefit from epilepsy glasses?

If you have photosensitive epilepsy, then seizure triggers can come at unexpected moments. You could be playing a video game when the screen starts flashing, or you might be at a concert when strobes suddenly start up. 

Some people find that certain kinds of glasses can help manage the unpredictable nature of photosensitive seizure triggers. 

A word on language: People sometimes refer to these glasses as “seizure glasses” or “epilepsy glasses.” These aren’t medically recognized terms, but since people often use this language when searching for information, we’ll be using it in this article for convenience. Be aware that there are no specific glasses that are FDA approved for the management of epilepsy.

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What are seizure glasses? 

Seizure glasses include a few different types of eyewear that people with photosensitive epilepsy may choose to use to reduce their risk of having seizures. If you are interested in using these glasses, talk to your doctor first. 

There are two broad types of photosensitive epilepsy glasses:

• Polarized sunglasses: These are sunglasses that have a special chemical added to the lenses which reduces glare. One study from 2001 used an EEG to measure 19 people with photosensitive epilepsy’s reaction to flickering light while wearing either standard polarized sunglasses or cross-polarized sunglasses. For 17 of them, wearing polarized sunglasses reduced or completely stopped their photosensitive response.

• Tinted lenses: Findings from one study suggest that glasses with tinted lenses help some people with photosensitive seizures. A group of 33 people with photosensitive epilepsy were asked to wear tinted glasses, and 23 (70%) of them found it helped them with some of their symptoms. Over two years later, 13 of them (57% of the original responders) continued to find the glasses helpful. Notably, only three patients showed a seizure reduction that could reasonably be attributed to the lenses, and two of these people weren’t on medication. Blue lenses appear to be particularly helpful for reducing seizure frequency among some people with photosensitive epilepsy.

While glasses for epilepsy might help some people with photosensitive epilepsy, it’s important to be aware that they don’t help everyone. If you’re interested in getting epilepsy glasses, speak to your doctor. 

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Advantages and limitations of seizure glasses:

Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks of epilepsy glasses:

Pros:‍

• There is evidence that they may help reduce the risk of photosensitive seizures for some people. But the evidence is fairly limited and more trials would be needed to draw firm conclusions. 
• They’re easy and quick to put on and carry around
• They may improve confidence with daily activities or at events

Cons:

• Can be relatively expensive
• Not always convenient or comfortable to wear (especially at night or indoors)
• Tinted lenses in particular can alter how you see the world around you and make them unsuitable for everyday usage
• Not guaranteed to work
• You may need ‘wrap around’ style glasses to prevent light entering from the sides

Where to get epilepsy glasses

If you’re thinking of buying a pair of seizure glasses or lenses, speak with your neurologist first. They can tell you if they think it’s necessary. Also, you may consider visiting an optometrist who can advise you on the most suitable lenses and glasses for you. 

Remember that, while there is evidence that epilepsy glasses appear to help with some people’s seizure management, there’s not enough research to say they definitely do work. And some people with photosensitive epilepsy find that these glasses don’t work for them, so there’s no guarantee they’ll work for you. 

Polarized sunglasses are easy to find in stores or online, but blue tinted lenses can be harder to locate. The cost of epilepsy glasses depends on a lot of factors, including the frame, brand, and the optometrist’s fees. As always, speak with your epilepsy treatment team for advice before buying epilepsy glasses.

Getting started with epilepsy glasses

If you would be interested in wearing seizure glasses, the first thing to do is to speak with your epilepsy specialist. They can advise on whether you really need them, and they may be able to recommend an optometrist near you who offers a good range of lenses and frames for you to choose from.