Symptoms
Often described as "TV static," "grain," or "pixels," this is the hallmark symptom required for a diagnosis.
What is the visual snow (or static)?
Despite the visual symptoms, VSS is considered a problem with this organ, not the eyes themselves.
What is the Brain or cortex?
Because the structure of the eye is usually healthy in VSS patients, this standard exam often comes back "normal."
What is a standard eye exam (or slit-lamp exam)?
These rose-colored lenses are frequently used to help manage light sensitivity and migraine associated with VSS.
What are blue light glasses?
This is the most common comorbidity associated with Visual Snow Syndrome, often occurring with aura.
What is Migraine
This term refers to the persistence of a visual image after the stimulus has been removed, often seen as "trailing" or "ghosting."
What is after image?
VSS is believed to be caused by this state of excessive excitability in the visual cortex.
What is Cortical Hyper-excitability?
This type of specialist, who focuses on vision-related neurological issues, is often the most equipped to diagnose VSS.
What is a Neuro-ophthalmologist?
While there is no cure, doctors typically recommend managing these two lifestyle factors: sleep and ________.
What is Stress (or Anxiety)?
Often described as a ringing or buzzing in the ears, this non-visual symptom is extremely common in VSS patients.
What is Tinnitus?
Many patients see excessive floaters or squiggly lines moving on blue backgrounds, a phenomenon known as this "field entoptic phenomenon."
What is the Blue Field Entoptic Phenomenon?
This specific area of the brain, located in the occipital lobe, has shown hypermetabolism (overactivity) in PET scans of VSS patients.
What is the Lingual Gyrus?
VSS is a "clinical diagnosis," meaning it is diagnosed based on this, rather than a blood test.
What is Patient History (or Symptom Criteria)?
This type of therapy, often abbreviated as NORT, focuses on training the brain-eye connection to reduce symptom burden.
What is Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Therapy?
Many patients report this sensation of unsteadiness or "rocking," unrelated to inner ear infections.
What is Dizziness?
Patients often struggle with this visual symptom, which makes it difficult to see in low-light conditions or at night.
What is night blindenss
A leading theory suggests VSS is a "dysrhythmia" between the cortex and this "switchboard" of the brain that relays sensory information.
What is the Thalamus (or Thalamocortical Dysrhythmia)?
To be diagnosed with VSS, the static must persist for at least this duration.
What is 3 months?
This anti-seizure medication, also used for bipolar disorder, is one of the few drugs commonly prescribed off-label for VSS, though results vary.
\What is Lamotrigine (Lamictal)?
Depersonalization and this psychological symptom are frequently reported, likely due to the distress of constant visual disturbances.
What is Anxiety?
Distinct from static, this symptom involves seeing starbursts, halos, or double vision around streetlights and car headlights.
What is glare or halos?
In healthy brains, this mechanism suppresses irrelevant visual noise; in VSS patients, it is believed to be malfunctioning.
What is Sensory Filtering (or Inhibitory Processing)?
Doctors must distinguish VSS from this condition, which has similar symptoms but is caused by previous use of hallucinogenic substances.
What is HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder)?
Some researchers are experimenting with rTMS, which uses these to non-invasively stimulate the brain to reduce cortical hyperactivity.
What are Magnetic Fields (or Magnets)?
Patients may also experience fine motor tremors or twitching, hinting at the systemic neurological nature of the syndrome.
What is Tremors