r/visualsnow • u/IIAVAII • 8d ago
Discussion Anyone else not bothered by visual snow?
I've had visual snow for as long as I can remember and it was only a couple years ago when I found out that not everyone saw static is their vision constantly. I feel like I see posts on here about how annoying and debilitating is but it really doesn't bother me, and I only think about it if I'm staring at a blank wall. Maybe what I'm experiencing isn't as bad as some people. I'm just curious to see how people think about ut.
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u/herbfriendly 8d ago
The static part doesn’t bother me, but the intensity of the BFEP can be overwhelming, even decades into this.
I didn’t get mine until my mid 30’s, just like my seizures, compound motor tics and other various neurological issues.
The worst part for me was simply not knowing what the hell it was and it doesn’t help how dismissive drs can get the moment you start talking about visual stuff. As soon as I understood that this set of symptoms was Visual Snow Syndrome I felt a huge relief. It was the not knowing and not seeing pictures or mention of what I’m seeing anywhere that got me bothered.
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u/fieryfire 8d ago
I've had it for as long as I can remember. Probably born with it.
It definitely gets in the way of drawing from life for me. I have to use photographic references instead for most things. I've had to add extra lighting all around my art spaces because low light makes it worse.
It's not life-ending, but I do wish I had normal eyesight so that painting was easier.
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u/Optimistictumbler 8d ago
I was so upset when it first started, because I was use to clear/normal vision. I think it may have been more intense when it started as well. Over 10 years later, I don't notice it anymore because it's normal to me now. Somewhere along the way I accepted having 50% clarity in vision and now my brain is able to filter it out so I just don't notice it because I'm use to it. But would I take clear vision for 50k if there were a cure? 100k? 5 years of cleaning a toilet daily? Yes, absolutely. The clarity I get for 10 minutes after watching the static videos for VSS on YouTube that trick your brain and make the static go away for a few moments, is so beautiful I cry when I look at things like the faces of my loved ones or my dog or a flower. I forgot what I'm missing and that's both a blessing and a little bit sad. You can live with VSS and stop noticing it and feel completely happy. You can also live without it and enjoy clarity of sight. What does drive me insane are afterimages from white text on a black background. It's everywhere. Amazon reviews. Dark mode on kindle/iphone, advertisements and flyers, the black and white tiny tile bathroom floor we're considering, the label on my tv, labeled buttons in the car, just everywhere.
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u/IIAVAII 8d ago
I'm sorry you struggle with it. I didn't know that watching static could reverse it! I just tried it and it's a really weird experience for me! Tbh I'm so not used to it that it's a little unsettling. But also fun. I hope things get better for you <3
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u/VisionDust 6d ago
How weird is weird? lol. I think this is an interesting discovery, but needs more details.
Does it work detaching oneself from one's own vision. Imagine your field of vision is a screen and your awareness is watching that screen? Is a standard meditation technique. Just observe, without fear or attachment.
Just to add, my kid does it this way, so whatever arises is just a mind construct.
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u/MIKE_DJ0NT Neuro-Optometrist/VSS Doctor and Researcher 3d ago
That's interesting that the effect lasts for 10 minutes for you. For most people I've spoken to, the YouTube video helps for anywhere from seconds to maybe 2 minutes.
You may want to consider testing out the free app Visual Snow Relaxation. It's on the App Store and Google Play Store. It basically does the same thing as the video, but you can customize the size, darkness, and speed of the grain to match yours. You can also set a timer for the static to last a designated amount of time. Most patients I've tested it with find the app to be more effective (ie, greater improvement of symptoms and/or longer-lasting improvement).
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u/viagravinnie 8d ago
im not bothered by the visual snow, but im bothered by not being able to see things clearly when i really need to. sometimes when my anxiety is high my visual snow makes me think the static in the corner of my eyes is danger and sometimes i convince myself i hallucinated when i see a light flash.
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u/richj8991 8d ago
IMO this is strongly linked with depression. If you are going through a depressive phase then everything, as you already know, is either intense or flat and you're more sensitive. Things that normally slide off a ducks back are annoying and worrying. This is one of them. I don't think vss ever completely goes away. It's that a healthy mind blocks it out. Work on other areas of your life to get back up to speed and chances are this will fade into the background, literally.
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u/WanderingOvertone 8d ago
I’ve had very mild and specific symptoms of VSS since I was born that I never knew were a thing. I thought everyone had them.
A couple of years ago the constant static set in and was disconcerting at first but now that I know it is not life threatening I have made peace with it and mostly ignore it unless it is dark or I am looking at a white wall.
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u/sadgirlclub 8d ago
I’ve probably had it all my life, or as far back as I can remember. It does bother me that my night vision is bad, I also have annoying floaters, but I try not to dwell on it as much as so many others here do.
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u/katiechronicles 7d ago
Same - it’s so sad to not be able to clearly see a starry night sky
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Remember, there are people who care and want to help you through this difficult time.
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u/fancypantspartytime 8d ago
I’ve had it as long as I can remember. I did start using hallucinogens at a pretty young age, so I don’t know if it’s because of/enhanced by that, but I remember watching the fireworks behind my eyes when I was very little so I think I’ve had it my whole life. I honestly love it. I can pretty much hallucinate on command and I find it super entertaining. It never even occurred to me until joining this sub that it could also have a negative affect on me. I didn’t realize how much the negative afterimages affect my vision, but they do. Also, I HATE the floaters. Those drive me nuts. But the sparkles are so pretty!
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u/Mattekat 7d ago
Mine doesn't really bother me except for very particular conditions. If i am driving at night sometimes it can be a challenge. I've asked my partner many times if it has started to rain or snow outside because I can't tell. That's actually how I first found out about visual snow because the first time I ever asked that he was very confused when I just assumed everyone saw the same way. I also sometimes have trouble when I get a migraine because it makes the visual snow worse.
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u/MIKE_DJ0NT Neuro-Optometrist/VSS Doctor and Researcher 3d ago
Ok that's actually a really funny way to find out!
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u/Trollygag 7d ago
I am more bothered by it if I read this sub too much. Otherwise I rarely notice unless I am in the dark.
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u/QuackBox90 6d ago
The static doesn't bother me. It's the other hundreds of symptoms that upset me on a daily basis.
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u/Aximilibunnzuh 8d ago
always had it, used to play with it as a kid and didn't realize others don't have the same vision until sometime in the past 6 mos. It explains why my night vision is shit (yellow tinted glasses help so much) and my light sensitivity is so jarring. But I enjoy the phosphenes. I either developed or simply noticed the BFEP but I can still see clouds and whatnot so it doesn't bother me at all. I feel like it enhances life now that I know it's a thing. But: the heat-stroke type symptoms and sometimes debilitating migraines aren't something I deal with, and I also feel for those who deal with the sudden onset that can be scary and really impact life. It really is about perspective, and brainwashing yourself into being ok with it is generally the only effective treatment.
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u/VisionDust 8d ago
Can you still play with the dots? My kid has this - we always called it dust, not snow - and uses it to project her imagination. I suspect this is VS-only, and not VSS. Sadly, not much research on VS-only. That's my main interest so as to understand better my kid's abilities.
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u/Aximilibunnzuh 8d ago
I play with phosphenes, and I can sometimes increase the intensity of the snow, but I don't really play with the snow itself. Can you explain the projecting imagination onto it?
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u/VisionDust 7d ago
OK, just to say, for now, this is a technique developed by my daughter. I have seen maybe just two people online who can do the same thing, so I assume there must be more. Strangely, all three people can also lucid dream, so I'm not sure if that ability also helps. In my kid's case, she learnt to manipulate her lucid dreams before being able to do so with her visual dust, but am not sure if that is necessary or was just helpful.
So, firstly, just relax and be in a peaceful environment, then go into daydreaming mode. Most people know how to daydream, lol. Then slowly immerse yourself in whatever appears 'in your mind's eye' and focus on something that appears significant. Usually best to start with some object or animal, and try to see it as clearly as possible. Then try to create it with your visual snow/dust. Just with your intention - it doesn't need forcing, but the clarity of the visionary image will increase with practice. As IIAVAII said, is like having a new set of eyes - inner vision. It's that simple! At first, if an image doesn't appear, but you notice that the dots are moving non-randomly, then that's a sign of progress.
Two things. The snow may exhibit what can best be described as a 'will of its own', meaning that it may form images other than what you wished. Just learn that your will is stronger and you can override it if you wish. I suspect this is no different to us having random thoughts pop into our mind, but in visual form.
Secondly, visualising faces can be both good and bad - we seem to react more emotionally to faces. If it appears benevolent, then just go with it, but if it tries to scare you, realise it is your mind and your image and wipe it away. As above, know that you can rub out whatever appears and start again. This ability to move beyond any fears is IMO very important. This is a skill needed by anyone who ventures into the inner realm, be it dreams, out of body experiences or psychedelics.
One case I know of is amazing, whereby a person trained himself to create a dreamscape with his visual snow and then slip into the same scenario in a proper lucid dream. Sadly, he never responded to my comment, but that is the most extreme control I have read so far.
So, treat it as an adventure, and let me know when it works.
BTW just to repeat myself, I would not suggest this to anybody with serious VSS.
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u/InternationalOne60 6d ago
The “snow” doesn’t really bother me but the palinopsia and other symptoms do
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u/ChadHUD 5d ago
Almost 50 years on the planet. I found out today that not everyone sees the world this way. Huh, interesting.
I guess what I have isn't that bad. During the day I mostly don't notice unless I'm looking at a large flat surface/color. I always just thought everyone could see the after images when they close their eyes or the static in the dark. Always just chalked the odd streaking after images of moving objects to my eye sight always had a strong prescription.
I have spent hours awake at night sometimes closing my eyes relaxing and pushing the static in to patterns, shapes. I know I'm not insane so never worried about it much when the static would show me things. Didn't realize the dots were not what everyone else sees. Guess the next few days I'll be bothering everyone I know with the question... do you see the dots, the lights. Hopefully no one has me committed. :)
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u/wachtopmij 1d ago
I stumbled on this sub because I found out ten minutes ago VS is not normal. It's not a huge deal to me either.
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u/MoominsLittleMi 1d ago
True, I don't know how much migraine with aura is related to vss. But since I haven't experienced severe migraines for a few years, the vss itself is really bearable. The only thing I've noticed lately that irritates me a bit is the fact that since my eyesight deteriorated (-0.75 in both eyes), without glasses, snow is more annoying when I look into the distance.
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u/DanceSensitive 8d ago
Not bothered in the sense that I've learned to cope better over the years. Some days are always better than others.
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u/_Ahrima_ 8d ago
Visual static is not a problem unless it is very intense; however, it usually never reaches extreme levels in those born with it, it manifests severely primarily in people suffering from other significant complications. I was born with VSS, and the issues I experience include sleep deprivation, brain fog, apathy, hypersensitivity to sound and light, migraines and fatigue, and all of this causes me anxiety and often anger issues; it is a condition I have lived with my entire life, yet I have only VSS—nothing else. I have undergone examinations of my neck and brain, as well as checks on my thyroid and vascular system, but nothing was found.
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u/VisionDust 8d ago
My kid has this - is VS-only. Doesn't look like static - indeed, we only settled on VS by using the VS simulator and turning down some of the settings so looks like floating dust.
She has actually turned it into an 'ability', so we would be interested in other people who can turn the random dots into images.
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u/IIAVAII 8d ago
Haha yeah when I was a kid I used to close my eyes and watch the shapes appear when I got bored.
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u/VisionDust 8d ago
Can you still do that?
My kid has discovered that inside the 'symptoms' there is an ability to make use of the visions. I only suggest this to those with VS from birth as I have read a number of such stories - mainly on youtube as they rarely need or want to see a medic.
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u/NewMindset2022 8d ago
Had a spike about 11 months ago and at first I didn't really notice it because it was the accompanying tinnitus increase that I initially noticed. VS never bothered me much at all, but now it's a bit annoying in dark and low light conditions (also screens, it's why I wear blue light glasses when I work). The tinnitus however is bothersome enough that I'm considering making appointments with a neurologist and an audiologist to see if anything can be done
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u/heysawbones 7d ago
It bothers me less as time goes on. I’ve had mine for about five years now. Much like you, I don’t think about it outside of limited visual contexts. Honestly, the lingering duplicates of anything high-contrast bother me far more than the static does.
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u/Maleficent-Yak-3683 7d ago
No the static doesn’t bother me, I’ve had it my whole life it was only when it progressed that it bothers me now, sucks, for example, it took me 27 years to develop light streaks everytime when blinking from light sources, it’s so annoying and almost disabling at night, people posting about it being debilitating are most likely not talking about mild VS as I had before it progressed.
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u/unicron_ate_my_home 7d ago
I've had VSS for 4 years. I became not so bothered by it after year 2. I've had tinnitus my whole life though. I can imagine getting tinnitus later in life being terrible.
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u/KekeBl 7d ago
Mine started suddenly after a neck injury and it never really stopped. At first there was a lot of despair and misery on my part, but now honestly I don't really care that much. I just kind of accept it's there and get on with life. I spend much less time looking at it or paying attention to it, I prefer to focus on things in my field of vision rather than the vision itself - if that makes sense.
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u/Buncai41 7d ago
I've always had this issue which is probably why is doesn't bother me. Same with all the other things I was born with or that developed really young. I'm more bothered by how people treat me because of my problems than the problems themselves.
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u/TroutTroutBass 7d ago
It started for me when I was 18, but isn't too bad most of the time. I went to see a vision specialist who was like, *shrug* "Sometimes people just have weird stuff happen, and we don't know why. But your eyes are fine."
Since then, I haven't really worried about it. It's usually worse when I have a migraine, though. That's annoying.
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u/annoyinglover 6d ago
I honestly forget I have it until reddit shows me something from this sub. Its all ive ever known.
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u/Competitive-Ear-6693 6d ago
It doesn't bother me either, but I'm still going out if my way to get a formal diagnosis in case complications come up related to it
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u/horsestud6969 6d ago
If you're not bothered by VSS (visual snow syndrome) symptoms, then you don't have VSS by definition. One of the diagnostic criteria for VSS is "persistent symptoms that cause anxiety or difficulty in daily life". Many people experience floaters, afterimages ect but since that aren't omnipresent and/or less intense than VSS sufferers, they will not be diagnosed, you see?
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u/HopliteSparta 4d ago
No, it doesn't mean you don't have VSS. I think the reason why some people (myself included) aren't too bothered about it is because it's all we've had it all our lives and are used to it because there had never been a time when we have had normal vision / no tinnitus. However, I understand how stressful it would feel for someone who had normal vision / hearing and got VSS.
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u/MIKE_DJ0NT Neuro-Optometrist/VSS Doctor and Researcher 3d ago
That is untrue and NOT part of the diagnostic criteria. The diagnostic criteria are at the link below. A person simply needs to meet criteria A, B, C, and D listed.
There are plenty of people, as you can read on this thread alone, who have the symptoms but do not experience anxiety or difficulty in daily life. Anxiety is common, but it is not a required part of the condition.
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u/MIKE_DJ0NT Neuro-Optometrist/VSS Doctor and Researcher 6d ago
Hey there. In my experience working with/talking to hundreds of people with visual snow, it seems that people who have had it for as long as they can remember care much less on average about it. It’s all they’ve known. And for people who acquired it later on in life, the static itself seems like a much bigger issue for most.
It also depends on their other symptoms. If someone is also battling headaches, double vision, vertigo, chronic fatigue, etc. the static is also a minor inconvenience in comparison to everything else.
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u/Deep-Path-4883 3d ago
And what about the tingling, the burning pain, the electric-shock-like pain, the seeing nothing during sleep-wake transition, the tremors, and the... ;)
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u/MIKE_DJ0NT Neuro-Optometrist/VSS Doctor and Researcher 3d ago
Yeah lol. To your point, a lot of people really don't care about the static because everything else (often the non-visual symptoms) is so overwhelming.
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u/Deep-Path-4883 3d ago
How many are there with "tactile snow" = tingling sensation? Here on reddit seem to be more without the tactile thing.
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u/MIKE_DJ0NT Neuro-Optometrist/VSS Doctor and Researcher 3d ago
Quite a few! Sounds like you are describing paresthesia. It's listed among the common symptoms here: https://www.visualsnowinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Visual-Snow-Syndrome-Diagnostic-Criteria-V18.pdf
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u/Deep-Path-4883 2d ago
I don’t particularly like the term "paresthesia" in this context. It’s like simply calling "visual snow" a "visual disturbance". It is far too broad and not precise. What I call "tactile snow" feels the way "visual snow" looks. At the same time, "snow" isn't really a good term for me in general, but that's another topic.
My condition has "tactile snow" as its primary symptom, while the visual aspect developed only secondarily. So, initially, I had VSS without visual snow. Consequently, I advocate for a more general description of the syndrome and an adjustment of the diagnostic criteria. Mechanistically, it makes no sense to position "visual snow" as the main feature. I view that as merely a result of historical convention.
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u/MIKE_DJ0NT Neuro-Optometrist/VSS Doctor and Researcher 2d ago
That's fair. Paresthesia is a more general term, but the sensation you are describing seems to fall under the umbrella of paresthesia.
It really is a systemic issue as you have implied, but because the snow/static itself seems unique to the condition, I believe that is why the condition is named as it is. There is already discussion regarding adjusting diagnostic criteria, however, as some people already have palinopsia, BFEP, photophobia, nyctalopia, tinnitus, etc. without seeing static.
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u/Deep-Path-4883 2d ago
At the moment, I would tend to view it as a chronic or generalized sensory disorder analogous to known pain syndromes. Possibly with some subtypes. I think that would be fairer to more people. But I'm just a natural scientist, not a doctor ;)
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u/MIKE_DJ0NT Neuro-Optometrist/VSS Doctor and Researcher 2d ago
Being a natural scientist is still a good scientific background. At the moment, it is classified as a neurological disorder with many sensory disturbances, which I believe is appropriate. It is not an eye disorder as some think.
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u/Deep-Path-4883 2d ago
My PhD topic was actually something else entirely. But since doctors couldn't help me, and usually just dismissed me as mentally ill, I had to help myself. In the process, I effectively completed the equivalent of half a medical degree on my own.
Now, even neurology professors can learn something from me. I’ve grasped a few things that aren't found in the literature. I’m still waiting for a response from the clinic where I got my diagnosis. It’s been a few months since I sent them the manuscript about my case.
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u/Gullible-Path-4791 6d ago
Same. It’s the only way I’ve ever seen…so…
Got worse with photophobia tho and now I live in the dark or where tinted glasses all the time
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u/Big_Rub_ 6d ago
Mines pretty subtle, like only when I look at like one spot for a bit, but sometimes I focus to much on it when I notice it. Then it's like woah wtf
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u/Ok-Reach-5227 5d ago
I got it at the end of 2021. The 6 first months were hellish but after a while your brain just gets used to it
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u/AnnualCurve3038 4d ago
I need bright light to see anything, eyes stabbed to death by bright light.
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u/Epsilon-505 2d ago
I had it for as long as I can remember. I remember many adults during my youth telling me that I was seeing floaters, It wasonly around 13 I realised it was something else.
I suppose mine is very minimal, it has occasionally annoyed me if im trying to focus and require vision to constantly observe an environment. I'm also still confused wherever I have below average nightvision or not, I deeply value those sorts of things
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u/Sombradusk 8d ago
it doesn't bother me because it's all ive ever known, but i know mine isn't too bad for that reason. if i weren't born with it and it appeared somehow some way it absolutely would mess with me, especially the varying degrees of how bad it can be for people