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This PHOTOSONIX Medical disclaimer is a straight forward
explanation of the risks involved in using PHOTOSONIX
equipment. We ask that you read and understand this
information, and decide if you are willing to accept
the risks involved before using the equipment. We are
not qualified to offer medical advice, this page contains
information we have collected from several sources.
For authoritative information, consult the references
or a healthcare professional.
Medical Disclaimer
"Light/Sound Systems" or "Mind Machines" have been
on the market for years. Thousands of users have logged
many hours on them with virtually no reported ill effects.
But there are some situations and conditions where use
of our products is strongly discouraged. These devices
create flickering light, which can cause
seizures in persons with
photosensitive epilepsy. You may be photosensitive
and not know it, follow the links for more details.
PHOTOSONIX products are designed for avocational and
recreational purposes. No medical claims are made for
PHOTOSONIX products, express or implied. They are not
medical devices and should not be used for the relief
of any medical condition. Please consult with your licensed
medical practitioner prior to use for any other purpose
as the machine is not intended as a replacement for
medical or psychological treatment. Our products are
not intended to affect the structure or any function
of the human body. These products are not approved for
any purpose by the FDA.
If you, or anyone else who will use this machine, are
subject to any form of seizures, epilepsy or visual
photosensitivity, are using a pacemaker, suffering cardiac
arrythmia or other heart disorders, currently taking
stimulants, tranquilizers or psychotropic medications,
specifically including illicit drugs and alcohol, please
do not use our, or any other Light/Sound system.
In addition, even if you have never had a seizure,
there is a small chance that you are photosensitive,
and exposure to flashing lights can cause a seizure.
If you are not willing to accept this risk, please do
not use PHOTOSONIX light/sound systems.
PHOTOSONIX Light/Sound systems are based upon ancient
understandings and modern research about how the mind
interacts with certain types of pulsating light and
sound patterns. Your experience should feel pleasant
and we recommend that you set the volume and light intensity
levels before you, or anyone you loan your system to,
uses it.
Photosensitive
Epilepsy
Photosensitive Epilepsy is a relatively rare condition,
affecting approximately 1 person in 4000. Persons with
this condition are susceptible to
seizures evoked by flickering lights, such as those
produced by a light/sound machine. The information included
here on photosensitive epilepsy is mostly from the book
"Photosensitive Epilepsy".
Most persons with photosensitive epilepsy have a first
seizure during their teenage years (75% by age 20).
About half of initial seizures are induced by watching
television. Some persons who are susceptible during
their teenage years outgrow the condition, about 25%
by age 25. As a result, adults over age 25 who have
never had a seizure have about 1 chance in 20,000 of
being photosensitive and not knowing it. So for a person
who has not had a seizure, the likelihood of being photosensitive
varies from 1 in 4000 for children to 1 in 20,000 for
adults over 25. Even if you have never had a seizure,
there is a small chance that you are photosensitive
and a light/sound session could cause a seizure.
In spite of the more inclusive summary warning above,
even if you have problems with epilepsy, there is only
about a 5% chance that you are photosensitive. You may
want to check with a neurologist to find out if you
are photosensitive, you may be able to use light/sound
without seizure concerns.
Seizures and
Epilepsy
Even if you have never had a seizure, there is a small
chance as noted above that you are photosensitive and
a light/sound session could cause a seizure. What is
a seizure? How is it related to epilepsy? How bad is
having a seizure?
A seizure is a paroxysmal (sudden, spasmodic) self limited
(stops by itself with no outside assistance) event caused
by an excessive electrical discharge of the central
nervous system. The most dramatic is the Tonic-Clonic
(formerly called Grand Mal) seizure, usually characterized
by falling, muscles stiffening, body extremities jerking
and twitching for a small number of minutes, and temporary
loss of consciousness. The seizure itself is usually
harmless, with any injury coming from falling or hitting
a hard object, although serious consequences including
death are possible in unusual situations.
Isolated seizures are relatively common -- about 8.8%
of the general population (1 person in 11) will experience
a seizure at some point in their lives (although most
seizures are not Tonic-Clonic). See
First Aid for Seizures below.
Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures.
The frequency of epilepsy is about 0.65% in the general
population (1 person in 153). Thus epilepsy is much
less common than isolated seizures, and a patient is
usually not diagnosed as epileptic until a second seizure.
See Treatment of Epilepsy
below.
If you are in a safe place, seated or lying down, you
have some protection from the major cause of injury
from a seizure, namely falling and striking a hard object.
Light/sound sessions should always be experienced while
seated or lying down in a safe place, even after you
are thoroughly convinced that you are not photosensitive.
This assists the relaxation process as well as giving
some protection from injury in the unlikely event of
a seizure.
Treatment of
Epilepsy
Drugs are available that reduce the frequency of seizures
in persons with uncontrolled epilepsy. These drugs usually
have undesirable side effects. Furthermore, initiating
drug treatment and hence establishing the diagnosis
of epilepsy will have significant consequences for a
person's life. It may restrict their driving privileges
and can eliminate them from consideration for certain
jobs such as pilot, commercial diving or commercial
automobile or truck driving. It can make obtaining health
and life insurance difficult. It often attaches a social
stigma, which can have profound negative effects on
self-esteem and social opportunities. For these reasons,
most neurologists and epileptologists (a neurologist
with a specialty in epilepsy) are reluctant to diagnose
epilepsy from a first seizure unless the risk of recurrence
is high.
A person who has experienced a first seizure should
be examined by a physician, to determine if any injury
has occurred and if treatment for epilepsy is appropriate.
Except in unusual circumstances (see
First Aid for Seizures) it is not necessary or even
desirable to visit an emergency room, as emergency room
physicians often do not know how to deal with seizures.
It is better to see a neurologist, preferably an epileptologist,
as soon as possible. The neurologist will conduct several
tests to see if there is any underlying cause for the
seizure that should be treated, or if it was just an
isolated seizure triggered by the flashing lights. If
flickering lights and photosensitivity was the cause
of the seizure, then the patient knows he/she should
avoid flickering lights in the future, but probably
no other life style changes will be required and the
diagnosis of epilepsy is not appropriate (see reference
1, page 139). If you or anyone you know has a first
seizure while using a light/sound machine, and drugs
are prescribed without finding an underlying physiological
cause for the seizure, you may want to get a second
opinion.
In some states (currently California, Delaware, Nevada,
New Jersey, Oregon, and Pennsylvania), a physician examining
a person who has epilepsy is required to report to the
department of motor vehicles, and the individuals drivers
license may be taken away until the doctor reports that
the individual can drive safely. This is another reason
to avoid emergency room physicians, many of whom are
not sure of how to deal with seizures, and who may diagnose
epilepsy just to play it safe.
First Aid for
Seizures
This material is from "The Epilepsy
Handbook", copied by permission. These procedures
are for Tonic-Clonic (formerly called Grand Mal) seizures,
the kind most commonly caused by photosensitivity.
During the Seizure: The person may
fall, become stiff and make jerking movements. The person's
complexion may become pale or bluish.
- DO help the person lie down and
put something soft under the head.
- DO remove any eyeglasses and loosen
any tight clothing.
- DO clear the area of sharp or hard
objects.
- DO NOT force anything into the
person's mouth.
- DO NOT try to restrain the person.
You cannot stop the seizure.
After the Seizure: The person may
awaken confused and disoriented.
- DO turn the person to one side
to allow saliva to drain from the mouth.
- DO arrange for someone to stay
nearby until the person is fully awake.
- DO NOT offer the person any food
or drink.
Calling for Help: (Usually not necessary)
Call 911 or the local police if:
- The person does not start breathing within 1 minute
after the seizure ends (begin mouth to mouth resuscitation).
- A generalized tonic-clonic seizure lasts more than
2 minutes.
- The person has one seizure right after another.
- The person is injured.
- The person requests an ambulance.
References
- Harding and Jeavons, 1994, "Photosensitive Epilepsy",
London, MacKeith Press
- Gumnit, 1995, "The Epilepsy Handbook, The Practical
Management of Seizures", New York, Raven Press Ltd.
Seizure Links
Blue light hazard information
We have recently received inquiries regarding blue light hazard and our thank you goes to those that responded with knowledge and research about the light hazard information. This copy is responding to those concerns.
Blue light is a daily fact and required for healthy vision. The vision impaired, however, may have concerns that require them to consult with their medical doctor and ophthalmologist. If an individual has a problems watching television, because of irritation of vision due to blue light, then they probably should be concerned. The intensity of blue light coming from TVs, far exceeds that of white or blue LEDs.
The potential for blue light hazard is just one of many hazards that exhibit themselves in our technology driven world. Others include electromagnetic fields (EMF), allergic response to chemicals in our water, food and air, and many more.
Only one's personal medical doctor can add up the health taxes that their patient acquires in order to responsibly guide them to avoid risk behavior.
Education is the key. For education, refer to http://www.mdsupport.org/library/hazard.html
People with low vision concerns that are interested in experiencing light and sound Relaxation stimulation should opt for other than white or blue lights, such as the soft green lights which provide soothing stimulation.
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