The phenomenon of “visual snow”: clinical and pathophysiological correlations, differential diagnosis and treatment (literature review)

Abstract

Visual snow syndrome (VSS) is a visual perception disorder characterized by persistent positive visual symptoms described by patients as “tiny dots, pixel vision, interference as on TV”. To date, the prevalence of VSS may be as high as 2.2–3.7% of the population, which significantly increases the interest not only of physicians but also of medical researchers. In addition, patients may have other visual symptoms as well as tinnitus, migraine, dizziness, tremor, fibromyalgia, paresthesias, depersonalization, derealization, anxiety, and depression. VSS may affect quality of life, educational, professional and social activities. The article discusses the criteria for diagnosis, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, clinical cases, and approaches to the treatment of VSS.

Keywords

• “visual snow”
• “visual snow” syndrome
• migraine
• thalamocortical dysrhythmia
• epilepsy
• ischemic stroke
• retinitis pigmentosa