Occipital lobe seizure features are seen, with focal sensory visual seizures occurring as the main seizure type. Visual phenomena include blindness or multi-coloured circles that may or may not be associated with blindness. Seizures are typically brief (<3 minutes), however if longer may be associated with head and eye version, autonomic features (vomiting), headache or unusual behavior. Seizures may evolve to a focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure.
The frequency of seizures varies from individual to individual, relating to variations in an individuals threshold for visual induction.