LED panels and photosensitivity: what you really need to know
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Are LED panels safe for everyone? The question comes up with every project in a healthcare or medical setting. The technical answer: yes, quality LED panels are safe; no, not all low-end panels are. The distinction comes down to a single component: the driver.
Flicker: the real issue
What is flicker?
An LED panel powered by alternating current (220V, 50 Hz) is subject to a voltage variation at 100 Hz (twice the mains frequency). If the driver does not properly filter this variation, the panel flickers at 100 Hz: invisible to the naked eye, but perceived by the brain and peripheral vision.
The effects of flicker
- Eye strain (prolonged use under high-flicker lighting)
- Headaches in sensitive people
- Theoretical risk for photosensitive people with epilepsy (but the triggering frequency is 3–50 Hz, not 100 Hz)
Applicable standards
IEEE 1789 defines the risk thresholds: flicker below 1% is considered Flicker-Free (no known risk). The Inventronics and Mean Well drivers used by Sunshine Panel deliver measured flicker below 0.5%.
LED panels and blue light
The blue component of LEDs
White LEDs are produced through phosphorescence: a blue LED excites a yellow phosphor to produce white light. A residual blue component therefore remains, varying in intensity according to the color temperature. 4,000 K lighting contains less blue light than 6,500 K lighting.
EN 62471 standards
EN 62471 classifies light sources according to their photobiological risk. 4,000 K LED panels below 10,000 cd/m² are classified as risk group 0 (no risk): this applies to all Sunshine Panel panels under normal conditions of use (viewing distance > 30 cm).
FAQ
Are LED panels dangerous for people with epilepsy?
Quality LED panels (with high-end electronic drivers) have a flicker rate below 1%, well below the photosensitive seizure trigger threshold (photosensitive epilepsy is triggered by frequencies of 3 to 50 Hz). Sunshine Panel panels, with Inventronics or Mean Well drivers, have measured flicker below 0.5%. No cases of epileptic seizures linked to a properly driven LED panel have been reported in the medical literature.
Can LED panels cause migraines?
Flicker that is invisible to the naked eye but perceptible to the brain can contribute to eye strain and, potentially, headaches in sensitive individuals. LED panels with low-end drivers may have 5–20% flicker. Sunshine Panel panels (with Inventronics/Mean Well drivers) have measured flicker of <1%, classifying them as Flicker-Free according to IEEE 1789 criteria.
How can you check the flicker of an LED panel?
The simple test: film the panel with your smartphone camera in slow motion (120 fps). If you see bands of light moving across the screen, the flicker is significant (>100 Hz). Sunshine Panel panels pass this test with no visible banding. For precise measurement, an oscilloscope or a lux meter with a flicker function is required.
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