Visual Snow: A Review on Pathophysiology and Treatment

Area of Science:

• Neuro-ophthalmology
• Neurology

Background:

• Visual snow (VS) is a rare condition characterized by persistent, flickering visual disturbances.
• Patients often describe VS as seeing static or pixelated dots across their entire visual field.
• VS can significantly impact a patient's quality of life and is often difficult for healthcare professionals to diagnose due to its subjective nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent updates in the etiology and treatment of visual snow.
• To increase awareness and understanding of VS among healthcare professionals and patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature search for English articles presenting original data published after December 2019.
• Analysis of neuroimaging findings and reported treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Neuroimaging studies suggest potential links to lingual gyrus hypermetabolism and altered visual pathway connectivity, though findings are inconsistent.
• Lamotrigine is noted as a potentially effective drug, but symptom exacerbation is a risk.
• Triggers such as alcohol, recreational drugs, and certain medications can worsen VS.
• Non-pharmacological treatments like color filters and repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) have also been explored.

Conclusions:

• The exact pathophysiology and optimal treatment for VS remain unclear, necessitating further research.
• Increased knowledge and awareness of visual snow are crucial for improving patient comfort and management.