The reported geographical variations in the prevalence of photoparoxys
mal response (PPR) among epilepsy patients have been variously attribu
ted to methodological problems such as patient selection, technique of
intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) and definition of PPR, and envi
ronmental and racial factors. We determined the prevalence rate of PPR
among South Indian epilepsy patients and compared it with the rates r
eported from elsewhere. Twenty of our 575 patients had a PPR, a preval
ence ratio of 3.5%, which is in striking contrast to the 0.6% reported
for North Indian epilepsy patients. Environmental and racial factors
cannot explain the difference in the prevalence rates of PPR between S
outh and North Indian epilepsy patients. We conclude that the demograp
hic characteristics of the patient group, such as age and gender, the
epilepsy type, sleep deprivation, technique of IPS and definition of P
PR, greatly influence the prevalence rate of PPR.