How do I take care of myself if I have visual snow syndrome?
While there’s no definitive treatment for visual snow syndrome, it's a good idea to see a neuro-ophthalmologist to check for other causes of your symptoms. Many people find that symptoms get worse when they’re under stress or don’t get enough sleep.
If this is true for you, you can find ways to relieve stress and avoid fatigue. Some choices for stress relief may include:
There are also things you can do to improve your sleep. These include:
- Keeping a sleep schedule. Get up and go to sleep at about the same time every day.
- Having a comfortable sleep environment (your bed, pillows and room temperature).
- Avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol — particularly late in the day.
- Avoiding screen use late in the day.
When should I see my healthcare provider about visual snow syndrome?
It’s important to see your provider any time you experience changes in vision. If you already have a diagnosis of visual snow syndrome, ask your provider for specific directions on when you should contact them. Follow their recommendation for how often you check in going forward.
You may have other questions for your doctor, including:
- Am I eligible for clinical trials?
- Can you suggest ways of dealing with stress or improving sleep?
- Can you suggest a support group for me?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Developing a new or worsening eye condition can be very stressful, especially when the causes are unknown. If you find yourself seeing constant “snow” or “static” throughout your visual field, contact your eye care provider.
FAQs
Visual snow syndrome isn't common. It's estimated to affect about 2% to 3% of the people in the world.
How to fix static vision? ›
The syndrome is characterized by visual static, which appears as tiny flickering dots that can be black and white, colored, or transparent. There is no known cure for this condition, as research is still ongoing.
What can be mistaken for visual snow? ›
The differential diagnosis for Visual Snow includes: ectopic blue field phenomenon, persistent visual migraine aura, eye floaters, posterior vitreous detachment, retinal detachment, dyslexia. It is important to distinguish visual snow from other diagnoses, particularly from migraine with aura.
Does visual snow ever go away? ›
Not likely. Most people report very little change in their VS over the course of their lives. A few people have reported gradual improvement over time and a few people have reported gradual worsening over time.
What does mild visual snow look like? ›
These dots are often similar to "snow" or "static," like you'd see on an old television. It is usually black and white but can also appear as flashing, colored, or even transparent. There are no tests for visual snow syndrome. It is diagnosed based on symptom history and ruling out other causes.
Is visual snow a disability? ›
Abstract. Visual snow syndrome is characterized by a continuous visual disturbance resembling a badly tuned analogue television and additional visual and non-visual symptoms causing significant disability.
What makes visual snow worse? ›
Certain lighting conditions seem to make symptoms worse, according to the study. These include dimly lit environments, harsh artificial light, darkness, and bright sunlight. If you have visual snow syndrome, try to avoid driving at night. Wearing sunglasses can also help reduce light sensitivity.
How to stop thinking about visual snow? ›
Redirect your attention away from the visual disturbances and focus on the people, places, or objects behind them. Practicing this consistently teaches your brain that VSS symptoms, while uncomfortable, are not dangerous.
Can anxiety cause static vision? ›
People with anxiety report seeing spots when they are anxious. One type of "spot" that people might see is visual snow. Visual snow is described as tiny flickering dots that resemble the static that can be seen on a television.
What vitamin deficiency causes visual snow? ›
A deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to visual disturbances, including visual snow. Omega-3 fatty acids: Are important for the health of the eyes and brain.
A case series of patients with glycine receptor autoimmunity describes symptoms of visual snow, palinopsia and positive visual phenomena which may be due to dysregulation of the GlyRα1 inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human retina [24].
What is the difference between visual snow and visual snow syndrome? ›
The main symptom of Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS) is Visual Snow (VS), but the condition also typically entails other visual symptoms like palinopsia, enhanced entoptic phenomena, photophobia, and nyctalopia as well as non-visual symptoms like tinnitus, depersonalization, insomnia, anxiety, depression, paresthesia, and ...
Is visual snow mental? ›
People with Visual Snow Syndrome see the world through a constant overlay of flickering dots passing over their entire field of vision. This persists whether their eyes are open or closed. The incurable condition is not due to eye problems – it's caused by an unknown brain malfunction.
Is it normal to see static all the time? ›
"Visual snow is a disorder where patients see a type of TV static in their vision. It's almost like they have millions of tiny little dots in their vision all the time, and it's throughout their visual field," says Dr. Robertson.
Can hormone imbalance cause visual snow? ›
This ultimately leads to an imbalance of hormones at the neuromuscu- lar junction [3]. As the patient presented suffered from symptoms of pituitary fatigue, it was hypothesized that an imbalance of hormones at the ocular muscle junctions led to his visual snow syndrome.
Why do I see electricity in my vision? ›
When the vitreous gel inside your eye rubs or pulls on the retina, you may see what looks like flashing lights or lightening streaks. You may have experienced this sensation if you have ever been hit in the eye and see "stars." These flashes of light can appear off and on for several weeks or months.
Is visual snow syndrome bad? ›
The visual snow syndrome is typically benign, but our patient illustrates that occasionally it is the first manifestation of a serious brain disease.
Should I be worried about oscillopsia? ›
If you or anyone you know experiences a feeling of the world moving, dizziness, balance problems or vertigo, you should seek medical attention right away. Oscillopsia is most often an underlying symptom of another condition. This underlying condition may or may not worsen if left untreated.
