Visual Snow

Visual snow is a transitory or persisting visual symptom where people see snow or television-like static in parts or the whole of their visual fields, especially against dark backgrounds. It is much like camera noise in low light conditions.

The severity or density of the "snow" differs from one person to the next; in some circumstances, it can inhibit a person's daily life, making it difficult to read, see in detail and focus correctly. The "snow" is more generalized than the "blue-sky sprites" seen in the blue field entoptic phenomenon.

There are different causes for visual snow, i.e., visual snow is a non-specific symptom. Therefore, each subject with a leading complaint of visual snow needs a full diagnostic work-up including ophthalmic, neurological and psychiatric examinations as well as an MRI scan of the brain.

However, test results for people suffering from the condition often all come back as normal with no underlying conditions found, and no cause known. Little medical research is taking place on the condition.

Useful links:

http://thosewithvisualsnow.yuku.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_snow
http://www.eyeonvision.org/visual-snow.html
http://www.migraine-aura.org/content/e27891/e27265/e42285/index_en.html

Category:

Education

Tags:

• visual snow
• snow
• static
• snowy vision
• visual static
• spots in vision
• tinnitus
• fuzzy vision
• anxiety
• persistent migraine aura
• blurred vision
• floaters
• visual snow syndrome

[Matthack50]

Im 15 years old and this is excacly what i am experiencing every f***ing day :(

feeling very lightheaded too , and sometimes , it just drives me crazy when i am trying to concentrate on something !

Never knew what it was called , found it on google today

(i have it as long as i can remember! when i was little , i saw images in it also , like , there was sitting a giant stuffed animal . sitting in the corner of my room on a chair every now and then:S, i was a bit scared though)

[UKMatt85]

@Matthack50 Thanks for sharing your story man. Glad you've found out finally what you've got. Try and keep your chin up. It's a complete pain in the arse, it drives me absolutely mad too but try and keep active and try to be positive, no matter how hard it can be sometimes.

[shugalooker]

Watching this made me cry...I am 15 and diabetic type one recently diagnosed. I stated to get VS about a month ago and it has not gone since. I hate being treated as being crazy by doctors... Other than VS i am short sighted but this is corrected easilly with glasses. I also have increased floaters and Tinnitus which comes and goes. ONE thing i have noticed is that it is worse in the morning, and decreases when i get up so im starting to wonder if it's blood flow or pressure problem.

[UKMatt85]

Stay strong. I notice you're from the UK too. I tend to find my VS is worse when I first wake up too, but my snow tends to improve when I get myself into bright natural light.

Don't let this thing get you down. You need to try and get the anxiety under control, this is critical for you. Eat healthy, sleep well and try not to stress. It may just go away eventually as it's still in its infancy for u. (Mines a 18 yr case). Acting as early as possible MAY help reverse it. Good luck! Stay strong : )

[jillbaby26]

That's exactly what I see everyday, along with mild tinnitus, after images, halos, and floaters in my left eye. I hope so bad that one day there's a cure): thanks for your comments on my videos! Sorry I haven't replied till now I have been busy.

[UKMatt85]

@jillbaby26 Hey it's good to hear from you! : ).You're very much welcome. I'm glad you liked my video. It sure does suck. Hope things are going in the right direction for you since your last video and you're still smiling. I'm trying a multi-vit and omega 3 at the moment. I've got my fingers crossed for some positive results lol. You know what... add me on facebook if you like, it would be good to talk more about this: facebook.com /mshotton (without the space). Thanks again for the msg : ).

[Baddronnald]

Could not explain it better matt.. i have had vs going on five years. it was a problem that freaked me out scared me to death... and no one believed me... but im still here living happy with my life i guess it is a scary thing... but you really can ignore it... i have 20 20 i rather see snow than blur or even nothing at all.. those who suffer from this condition dont freak out just live like you want too and let it snow dont let it hold you back from dreams and your ambitions

[RoyTheCoyBoy]

Great video. I have no idea what caused my visual snow and I am completely unaware of how long I've actually had it. Hopefully, it gets better or disappears altogether.

[trishat78]

i cryed when i saw this video -though i was alone in this-hit all my symtoms on the dot except i have cronic migrane and tention migrane too.don't want to live like this got to be some help somewhere.had snow and headaches for 21years migraine 19 and tention headache 14 years.

grew up without insurance -and a father who believes if it doesn't kill u it makes u stronger so i let it go too long.

[Rlawrenceaj]

I have been trying to google little bright squiggly lines.. tadpole like lines while looking at sky.. all sorts of things..and just didn't know what was going on. and I found this video. This has been going on now for months..I am so glad I found this video. Thank you!

[Wazztheweasel]

xtc, hard drugs and ritalin etc do this to you.

[MarekNosal]

how can it be rare, if it looks many people have this :P

I am very afraid if it isnt something really serious...

I have it for a long time and I think there are much more serious conditions like VS...dont think about it is a first point to be happy...but know from some reason I just started to thing about it and I feel very depresed...

Also I noticed it get worse when I am in stress, its much more noticable.

So stay positive is very important...

[qweffi]

i've got anxiety visual snow en tinnitus. but im so happy dat i found out these go together i thought the axiety came from my life,the visual snow from stupis thing partying with substances,and tinnitus from hard music while parting. first im gonna get rid of my anxiety and who knows .... it will all end

[frouwipkus]

How annoying that you do suffer from it. I wish you much strength.

[TheViking212]

Hey great video, my story with VS started when i was about 9 or 10 (18 now) i remember completely freaking out thinking i was going to go blind etc, i went to the eye doctor and he couldn't find anything wrong with my eyes, at the time i had no idea how to explain/describe it to anyone.Ive learnt to live with VS for so long now i just forget about it, i mean it doesnt stop me doing anything.To all the people out there who get worried and down DONT just live your life and try and remain happy :)

[polishguy994]

@Baddronnald Thanks, I just found out I had visual snow a week ago, and your comment really meant a lot to me, Again, thank you.

[MegaNoodle19]

I cried when I saw this. I've been trying to explain what has gone wrong with my vision (it just happened a week ago) and this is exactly it. I saw a doctor who said my eyes looked healthy and my vision was good, but still I see snow and absolutely nothing in the dark, unless I close my eyes, then I see flashes of light. Thank you for posting this.