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Erschienen in:
11.12.2023 | Uncommon and/or Unusual Headaches and Syndromes (F Cohen, Section Editor)
Visual Snow: Updates and Narrative Review
Erschienen in: Current Pain and Headache Reports | Ausgabe 2/2024
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Purpose of Review
Visual snow (VS) involves visualization of innumerable dots throughout the visual field, sometimes resembling “TV static.” Patients who experience this symptom may also have additional visual symptoms (e.g., photophobia, palinopsia, floaters, and nyctalopia) with a pattern now defined as visual snow syndrome (VSS). This manuscript describes both VS and VSS in detail and provides an updated review on the clinical features, pathophysiology, and optimal management strategies for these symptoms.
Recent Findings
VS/VSS may be primary or secondary to a variety of etiologies, including ophthalmologic or brain disorders, systemic disease, and medication/hallucinogen exposure. Evaluation involves ruling out secondary causes and mimics of VS. Increasing evidence suggests that VSS is a widespread process extending beyond the visual system. Pathophysiology may involve cortical hyperexcitability or dysfunctional connectivity of thalamocortical or attention/salience networks.
Summary
VSS is typically a benign, non-progressive syndrome and can be managed with non-medicine strategies. Though no medication provides complete relief, some may provide partial improvement in severity of VS.