Visual Snow

Parent Cafe
1

I’m not a parent, but I thought that this would be the perfect place to ask this as this has really been bothering and puzzling me for years. In 5th grade I started faintly noticing static in my field of vision, especially at night. I’ve done some research and I’ve discovered it’s something called Visual Snow. The cases I’ve read about are severe, where the patients can’t see anything and have severe migraines/depression to the point where it’s a debilitating disease. Mine is so faint and insignificant that I go months without remembering I have it and I honestly can’t tell you if I had this when I was little.

I’ve read forums about how “everyone” experiences this, and I just want to see test if this is true and whether I’m normal or not. Just knowing about this bugs me a lot, and distracts me from my studies (the actual static never bothers me). Do any of you ever see faint static in your field of vision, especially in the dark? Tone the bars down on this website to see what I mean:

https://visionsimulations.com/visual-snow.htm?background=night2.jpg

also check out this old forum:

https://www.hipforums.com/forum/threads/what-do-you-see-in-darkness-do-you-see-static.375577/

I feel like it’s something so faint that no one realizes they have, but I paid very close attention to my eyesight in elementary school and this was something I’ve noticed. It’s insignificant but just knowing that I could be different bothers me. I have no clue what would cause this; some doctors say the more severe cases are caused by hereditary issues or drug overdose, none of which apply to me. I just hope that some of you viewing this thread understand what I’m talking about.

2

It would probably be a good idea to have it checked out by a medical professional before diagnosing yourself. You may or may not be right. And, if you are right then the medical personnel could tell you how to treat it instead of random, anonymous persons who also may or may not be correct.

3

@bajamm The issue is that most “professionals” have no idea what we are talking about. There is a fine distinction from what I am experiencing and the severe type of visual snow. It’s very subtle and I believe that people have become so accustomed to it it’s like blinking; it’s there, but you don’t realize it. Whenever I ask people if they have something similar, I don’t think it’s because people don’t have it but because I’m not able to articulate it to them, just like many people who have noticed this cannot articulate it to optometrists.