What is Visual Snow Syndrome?
Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS) is an uncommon neurological condition. VSS is characterized by an unusual visual disturbance, pixelated ‘visual snow’ or described as tiny flickering dots continuously appearing in a single plane or even the entire visual field.
What are the symptoms of VSS?
Normally, a person detected with VSS often experience at least 2 of these phenomena, other than the visual snow effect:
- Photosensitivity : sensitive to light
- Nyctalopia : night vision problem
- Entoptic Phenomena : visual effect originated inside the eye
- Palinopsia : persistent recurrence of an image even after the stimulus has been removed
VSS patients also reported to manifest several secondary visual and non-visual symptoms, such as
- Migraine
- Photopsia
- Hyperacusis
- Phonophobia
- Tinnitus
- Cutaneous allodynia
- Balance disturbance
- Tremor
What causes VSS?
Although the causes of VSS currently remain unknown, but the key features of VSS point to a neurological disorder of visual processing inside the brain cortex. It usually happens after a concussion/mild traumatic brain injury, the onset of other brain related abnormalities.
How to help people diagnosed with VSS?
- Specialized spectacle tints
Use of precisely customized tints (chromatic filter effect) with respect to hue and saturation that suit the individual the best. It would help to reduce the intensity of perceived visual snow disturbance, photosensitivity, and palinopsia.
- Neuro Vision therapy
With paradigm in addition to the chromatic filter, the effect can help in reducing the perceived intensity of palinopsia, as well as improving visual comfort.
The First Step
The first is to schedule a Neuro-Developmental vision evaluation to determine to what degree the vision problems. Once the testing is completed, our Behavioral and Developmental Optometrist will review the results and go over the recommended program.
reference:
https://rarediseases/rare-diseases/visual-snow-syndrome/
https://www.futuremedicine.com/pdfplus/10.2217
