Red-light flashing pens and seizures in children

Photosensitive epilepsy is the most common form of stimulus-induced epilepsy. We describe two unrelated females aged 9 years and 10 years, with prolonged photic-induced absence seizures triggered by a commercially available red-light flashing pen popular among children. Both patients underwent clinical assessment and electroencephalography (EEG) with intermittent photic stimulation. Their EEGs showed a generalized photoparoxysmal response to intermittent photic stimulation. Exposure to the pen, performed in the 9-year-old, elicited a powerful photoparoxysmal discharge. Both patients were successfully treated with valproic acid, preventative measures, and avoidance of known triggers. These observations highlight the risk posed by poorly regulated flashing lights in consumer products. Despite past efforts to regulate visual stimuli in video games and media, current regulatory frameworks do not adequately address emerging light-emitting diode-based technologies, leaving vulnerable populations exposed to preventable risks. There is a pressing need for updated safety standards to prevent seizure-provoking stimuli, especially in products marketed to children.