Visual Snow Syndrome Symptoms and Treatment

Visual Snow Syndrome is a neurological disorder in which one’s vision is covered in small, dot-like shapes that resemble static from a television, and “snow”. In addition, those affected often experience impaired night vision, double or after images, sensitivity to light, and floaters. A floater is a clump of microscopic fibers inside the vitreous, “a clear gel-like substance” in the eye, that casts a shadow on the retina. These shadows are the floaters.

How Does One Get Visual Snow Syndrome?

It is unknown what causes Visual Snow Syndrome, however many people with migraines often have VSS as well. It is important to note that Visual Snow Syndrome is different than migraines with auras.

Symptoms

The 5 main symptoms of Visual Snow Syndrome are entoptic phenomena (floaters), visual static, palinopsia (after images), nyctalopia (impaired night vision), and photophobia (sensitivity to light).

Investigations

Although there have been very few investigations as to how and why visual snow occurs, in 2015, a woman who had Chronic Migraines with auras and Visual Snow Syndrome was treated with lamotrigine, and the medication reduced the frequency of migraines, as well as the severity of her Visual Snow.

Treatment

Presently, there are not many treatments that are evidence-based. Certain medications such as lamotrigine, acetazolamide, and verapamil have been prescribed as possible treatments, however, they don’t always benefit the patient. Lamotrigine is commonly used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, Acetazolamide is commonly used to treat epilepsy and altitude sickness, and Verapamil is commonly used to treat high blood pressure.

Current Problem

There are many people suffering from Visual Snow Syndrome in the world, however, they may not know that they have this syndrome and that what they see is “normal”. Additionally, certain healthcare providers and doctors don’t believe that it exists. There aren’t any investigations being conducted for this syndrome, and currently, there are very few effective treatment options. This syndrome can be debilitating for some as it affects their vision constantly throughout their lifetime.

Solution

Visual Snow Contacts

My cure for visual snow is a pair of “smart” contacts. These contacts would be worn every day, like a normal pair of prescription contacts, and they would be taken out at night. These contacts would have microchips in them, which would allow them to change filters according to what the patient is experiencing. For example, at night, the contacts would change to the night vision setting to help those who are affected by impaired night vision. If the patient is experiencing after images, the lenses would change filters so that they are the original color of the image. This is because after images are always in complementary colors of the original image, so the contact and after image would cancel out. The contacts would also be able to get rid of the “static” that those affected constantly see. Lastly, there would be a filter, similar to sunglasses, that would combat the sensitivity to light symptoms.

Floaters

My cure for floaters is that a doctor would take out the microscopic clumps of fiber in the eye with a syringe that has a small needle. The clumps would be suctioned out so that they wouldn't have the opportunity to cast shadows on the retina.