Optogenetics, the use of light to stimulate or inhibit neural circuits via viral 
transduction of protein channels, has emerged as a possible method of treating 
epilepsy. By introducing viral vectors carrying algal-derived cation or anion 
channels, known as opsins, neurons that initiate or propagate seizures may be 
silenced. To date, studies using this technique have been performed in animal 
models, and current efforts are moving toward more sophisticated nonhuman 
primate models. In this paper, the authors present a brief overview of the 
development of optogenetics and review recent studies investigating optogenetic 
modification of circuits involved in seizures. Further developments in the field 
are explored, with an emphasis on how optogenetics may influence future 
neurosurgical interventions.