The Research Progress of Visual Snow Syndrome

Abstract

Visual snow syndrome(VSS)is a visual-disturbance disease characterized by continuous flickering tiny dots in the entire visual field, sometimes with visual symptoms like photophobia or nyctalopia and non-visual symptoms such as anxiety and depression.VSS can remain stable or worsen, causing distress to patients′ visual experience and mental state. The pathological mechanism of VSS is still unclear and a hypothesis indicates a relationship between VSS and increased cortical excitability of the visual cortex. Some case reports suggest anti-seizure medications, colored filters and TMS may help eliminate symptoms, but futher studies are required to verify these treatments. This review will systematically introduce what we know about VSS so far.

Keywords

• visual snow
• visual snow syndrome
• migraine
• rare diseases