Until recently, little was known about visual snow syndrome (VSS), which causes people to see constant tiny dots over their entire visual field, much like the static on an old television screen. However, experts now believe that this frustrating ocular condition affects around one in 50 people – or 2.2% of the population.1
Sydney neuro-ophthalmologist Dr Clare Fraser and Professor Alison McKendrick, who recently moved from Melbourne to University of Western Australia, have both published on VSS.
First described in 1995, and often confused with migrainous aura, VSS is often associated with non-visual symptoms, including tinnitus; depersonalisation (feeling detached from self ); symptoms of anxiety and/or depression; migraines and brain fog; dizziness and/or nausea; sleep disorders; or tingling and/or pain of body parts.
Find out all about VSS at a conference presented by United States optometrists Dr Charles Shidlofsky and Dr Terry Tsang. Over two days, from 25–26 March, Drs Shidlofsky and Tsang will describe the condition and discuss its visual associations and optometric management, including tints and vision therapy.
Hosted by the Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists, and accredited for 12 hours CPD by Optometry Australia, the conference will be held at Rydges Cronulla Beachside, in Sydney. This live event will not be recorded. To find out more and register, visit acbo.org.au.
Reference:
Costa RM, Campos P, Wiborg M, et.al. Prevalence of visual snow and relation to attentional absorption. 7 November, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276971
