Definition of Visual Snow Syndrome

Visual snow syndrome is a rare condition that produces a continuous disturbance of vision that appears as tiny flickering dots across the entire visual field, resembling the "snow" effect seen in older analog televisions when not tuned to a channel. Other visual disturbances may also coexist with this phenomenon. The exact cause of visual snow syndrome is not understood, but it is thought to be due to a disorder of visual processing. Further, the exact number of people affected is also not known. Up to 75% of those affected also suffer from tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.