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Related Experiment Video

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Visual Snow: a Potential Cortical Hyperexcitability Syndrome.

Alaa Bou Ghannam1, Victoria S Pelak2

  • 1Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Academic Office 1, 12631 E. 17th Ave., Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. ALAA.BOUGHANNAM@UCDENVER.EDU.

Current Treatment Options in Neurology
|March 29, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Visual snow (VS) is a rare visual disorder causing persistent "snow-like" dots. Current treatments focus on managing symptoms with medications like lamotrigine, acetazolamide, and verapamil to improve quality of life.

Keywords:
Cortical hyperexcitabilityMigraine visual auraPersistent visual phenomena of migraineVisual snow

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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Visual snow (VS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by persistent, widespread visual disturbances resembling tiny, moving dots.
  • It can lead to significant visual and psychological distress, impacting patients' quality of life.
  • VS is increasingly recognized as distinct from, yet associated with, migraine visual aura, with neuronal cortical hyperexcitability proposed as a potential mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of visual snow (VS).
  • To review and discuss current pharmacologic treatment options for managing VS symptoms.
  • To explore potential future treatment avenues based on emerging understanding of VS pathophysiology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on visual snow and its treatments.
  • Analysis of current pharmacologic interventions, including lamotrigine, acetazolamide, and verapamil.
  • Discussion of theoretical mechanisms, such as cortical hyperexcitability, underlying VS.

Main Results:

  • Pharmacologic treatments, initiated at low doses and gradually increased, can improve tolerability and compliance.
  • While complete resolution is difficult, symptom reduction with medications can significantly enhance patients' quality of life.
  • Lamotrigine, acetazolamide, and verapamil are identified as preferred treatment options, with specific dosing strategies outlined.

Conclusions:

  • Current treatment approaches for VS primarily focus on symptomatic relief and improving quality of life.
  • Medications commonly used for migraine visual phenomena are considered viable options for VS management.
  • Further research and clinical trials are needed to develop more targeted and effective treatments for this disabling condition.