1960’s
1960s
Given how rare Sunflower syndrome is, a group of doctors and researchers in 1962 gathered all available cases they could find. In total they described about 20 who they termed having “self-induced photosensitive epilepsy.” Of these, about half hand waved in sunlight.
1980s
1980s
Ames observed that patients with this condition were often drawn to sunlight, like how sunflowers turn towards the sun. Dr. Ames challenged the prevailing idea that these seizures were self-induced. Instead, she advocated for the adoption of the name “Sunflower Syndrome” to better represent the nature of the condition.
2000s
2000s
Recent Studies: Since the early 2010’s there has been a recent resurgence in Sunflower literature including increasing number of clinical series, case reports, and clinical trials Reclassification (2022)- Sunflower syndrome was reclassified by the international league against epilepsy as a subgroup of Epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia (EEM). It is now termed “EEM with prominent photic induction
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