Visual Snow Syndrome - An Uncommon Neurological Condition

Introduction

Visual snow syndrome is a relatively new neurological disorder that was named in 2013. It is distinguished by flickering dots that cover the entire field of vision. These dots appear like "snow" or static - the pattern on an analog television's screen when it is not tuned to a channel. Until the late 2010s, researchers knew little about the visual snow syndrome. It still needs to be determined how widespread it is and what causes it. Brain imaging studies suggest that visual snow is often overlooked because the brain edits it. Visual snow can be debilitating for some people and harm their quality of life.

What Is Visual Snow Syndrome?

Visual snow (VS) is a type of visual hallucination characterized by the perception of tiny, bilateral, diffuse, simultaneous, mobile, asynchronous dots typically throughout the whole visual field, although it can be partial, and it occurs in all illumination conditions, including with the eyes closed. The dots remain distinct and do not clump or change in size. There are two types of visual snow; pulse snow and broadband snow.

• In the pulse type, the dots have the same color as the background, white or black, and the noise is monopolar. The dots in black pulse visual snow are always darker than their background, whereas the dots in white pulse are always lighter than their background.

• In the broadband type, the dots' noise is bipolar and appears in contrast to the background. With a light background, the dots appear dark, and with a dark background, the dots appear light.

What Are the Risk Factors for Visual Snow Syndrome?

• The average age in a 2020 study of 1,100 people with visual snow syndrome was 29. Approximately 40 % of the participants in the study had symptoms for a very long time. The researchers discovered no gender differences in the prevalence of visual snow syndrome. On the other hand, those who identified as female had more severe cases.

• Migraine appears to be strongly linked to visual snow syndrome. This suggests that there could be a shared mechanism. Almost 75 % of people with visual snow syndrome have a migraine history. In addition, approximately 25 % of people with visual snow syndrome suffer from severe depression or anxiety.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Visual Snow Syndrome?

Among the visual symptoms of visual snow syndrome are:

• A "snow" or "static" appearance, whether the eyes are open or closed. Another distinguishing feature of visual snow syndrome is the ability to see dotted images with either closed or open eyes.

• Observing objects that remain after the original image has vanished. This is known as palinopsia.

• Being light sensitive (photophobia).

• Having trouble seeing at night (nyctalopia).

• Entoptic phenomena are the phenomenon of seeing images within one's own eye. It is what happens when one closes the eyes but can still see the light.

Visual snow syndrome patients may also experience the following:

• Tinnitus is a ringing or buzzing in the ears.

• Anxiety, depression, or irritability.

• Having trouble concentrating, feeling confused, or experiencing brain fog.

• Having difficulty sleeping (insomnia).

• Aura migraines occur frequently. This must be distinct because the aura cannot be the underlying cause of their visual symptoms.

• Feeling dizzy or sick.

• Feeling disconnected from oneself (depersonalization).

• Vertigo.

How Is Visual Snow Syndrome Diagnosed?

Any visit to a healthcare provider will begin with reviewing the medical history and the symptoms. A physical examination may be conducted. The eye care specialist will perform a thorough eye examination. Other diseases must be ruled out before visual snow syndrome can be diagnosed. To accomplish this, the healthcare provider may advise imaging or other tests. One may need to see both a neurologist and an ophthalmologist. The visual symptoms cannot be the same as those associated with migraine aura. They also cannot be caused by another disease or drugs that would cause the "snow" to appear. To be diagnosed with visual snow syndrome, one must meet the Puledda et al. diagnostic criteria, which include having these symptoms for at least three months. While many people experience symptoms from birth, others experience symptoms in their teens or early twenties.

One must also have at least two of the following four visual symptoms:

• See afterimages or trailing images (palinopsia).

• See floaters and flashes of color or light within the eyes (entoptic phenomena).

• Being light sensitive (photophobia).

• Have difficulty seeing at night (nyctalopia).

What Is the Treatment for Visual Snow Syndrome?

There is no standard treatment for visual snow syndrome, but some medications are being investigated. The provider may recommend medications to treat psychiatric symptoms and alleviate some of the problems. This may provide one with a higher quality of life.

• Lamotrigine, an anti-seizure medication, is being tested as a treatment by some researchers. The medication has been used to treat migraines that have a visual aura.

• Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, has been prescribed by other doctors to treat visual snow syndrome.

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation is another therapy being investigated for treating visual snow syndrome.

• Blue light blockers have also shown to be beneficial in treating comorbid conditions such as migraine and anxiety.

• Visual snow syndrome patients should be reassured that the condition is not associated with significant visual deficits. This reassurance can be extremely helpful.

How Is Visual Snow Syndrome Managed?

While there is no cure for visual snow syndrome, one can see a neuro-ophthalmologist to ensure there is no other cause for the symptoms. Many people find that their symptoms worsen when they are stressed or do not get enough sleep. If this is the case, there are ways to reduce stress and avoid fatigue. Some options for stress relief include:

• Exercise that one enjoys.

• Yoga.

• Meditation.

• Mindfulness.

• Massage.

• Reiki.

To improve the quality of sleep, an individual can follow the methods below;

• Maintaining a sleep schedule to wake up and go to bed at the same time every day.

• A relaxing sleeping environment includes a comfortable bed, pillows, and room temperature.

• Caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol should be avoided, especially late in the day.

• Avoiding late-day screen time.

Conclusion

Visual snow syndrome is a neurological condition characterized by persistent dots in the visual field that resemble television static. Researchers are not sure what causes it, but they believe that issues in the brain's visual processing centers may play a role. Experiencing a new or worsening eye condition can be extremely stressful, especially when the cause is unknown. An eye care specialist must be consulted if constant "snow" or "static" in visual field is experienced.