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Some kind of moving "grain" or flickering or snow to my vision
Hi, thanks in advance for anyone that replies. Here's my problem/story
I'm 34. A couple weeks ago I woke up one day and after about ten to twenty minutes of being awake I noticed some weird little mark in my vision. It was almost like a little fleck of distortion or something, it's hard to describe. It seemed to be in both eyes although I only tested that aspect of it for a couple minutes. I have never experienced something like that before or since. To give you some idea of how out of the norm this was and how scared it made me, I immediately went to the emergency room to have it checked and I hadn't been to an emergency room as a patient in almost twenty years, so I'm not someone that just goes to the hospital for every little thing.
About fifteen to twenty minutes after I got to the ER, so probably 40ish minutes after I noticed the problem, it was gone. The doctors still ran a few tests. They had me do a basic eye test where I read letters off a chart. They shined a light in my eyes and had me track a moving finger. Finally, they gave me a CT scan just to make sure it wasn't a major brain issue like a stroke. They told me they couldn't find any problems, nothing wrong on the CT scan, didn't see signs of a torn retina, etc. They told me to book an appointment with an Optometrist, just to have a specialist do a more thorough follow up, which I have booked, although at the time of this post it's still a week and a half away, so I haven't seen them yet.
Then the real problem started. The original eye problem that brought me to the ER, that little distorted spot? It's never come back. I haven't seen it since that one hour in that one day. What did happen in the following days was me being very stressed about what had happened, and becoming hyper-aware of my vision. For me this meant I became more aware of the floaters in my eyes. I've had floaters for years and years, probably most of my adult life, if not longer. Currently, I have three pretty obvious ones in my right eye, one or two obvious ones in my left, and maybe some more light, hard to see ones that I could only find if I really went hunting for them. Floaters are annoying, but I've gotten used to them like most people do and in fact I will go months and months at a time without even thinking about them once. But being hyper-aware of my vision after my ER scare, I paid more attention to them for a few days and was more annoyed by them. Just when I was starting to forget about them one day I was brushing my teeth before bed and looking into the dim hallway I noticed a very weird vision thing. It is really hard for me to put into words, but the best I can say is it's like some kind of visual grain. It feels like it's moving but it might just be rapidly pulsating, I'm not sure.
All of a sudden, I noticed that I see it all the time, everywhere, out of both eyes. It is most noticeable when I stare at something blank without much detail: a wall, the floor, ceiling, a towel several feet away, but I can see it on things with detail as well. It's there persistently. It's more noticeable in a darker/dimmer setting but is still very noticeable in normal light levels as well. It's not like a floater, it's not like the weird one time thing sent me to the ER. The closest thing I can compare it to is when you rub your eyes hard and then open them again, your vision is very briefly kind of flickering little levels of light where you rubbed them? Well, imagine that constantly over your vision, only a bit less severe and maybe a finer "grain" to it. I've looked up various online pictures and videos that try to approximate what visual snow looks like to people, and none of them really fit. Again, I don't see it in colors, and if it's dots they're so small that I can really even define them as dots.
Now, there are three situations where I can make this problem far less noticeable. One, if I focus on something incredibly close up, but I'm talking nearly on my eye, as close as you can get and still focus on something. Two, if I stare at a bright spot, like a white patch of ceiling right next to a light bulb. Three, if I watch something moving with lots of detail, like a TV show, although even there I can see it if I look for it or there's a big patch on the screen of a single color with no detail, so this one might be more of a distraction than anything.
In the three or four days since I've discovered this, I've been a wreck. It's all I can focus on. The fact that it's there constantly everywhere and it has some kind of either movement or pulsation really bothers me and I'm worried it's never going away. I've lost my appetite, I'm panicked, I'm depressed, I feel helpless. The funny thing is I can vaguely remember noticing I had some kind of visual "noise" years ago, but it was once in a dark room and I had never thought of it again. It's been so long since that time, I can't remember if this is worse or the same as what I noticed then, but I get the feeling this is something I've had for a long time to some degree but was used to it or it progressed so slowly I didn't really notice, but now that I do see it, I can't unsee it. It's all I see.
Before I get into my worries/questions I'll also say that I am nearsighted, have been since I was a pre-teen, and I wear glasses. I am in fact long overdue for an optometrist appointment, we're talking years since I've seen one, and I know my vision has gotten somewhat worse and I need a stronger prescription, but it's not been a big issue for me. I still have read, watched TV, lived my life, I just have noticed having to get somewhat closer to things in recent years.
So with all that said, these are the worries I have:
1. I have visual snow/static.
The only eye condition I can find that even comes close to describing the symptoms I have is visual snow, but I'm unsure if that's even it, which is a big reason why I'm here writing this. I'm looking for you, the people who are definite sufferers of visual snow/static to give me your opinion. The moving nature of it and the "grain" jive with your condition, but it is not really dots. It's not colors. The part that does match up is that moving/shimmering/flickering/whatever you want to call it effect, which does feel a little like static.
2. I have some other eye condition
I have not found anything else online that comes close to fitting this description, but obviously I'm not an expert. I am still waiting to see the optometrist but the ER doctors did do that basic vision check and didn't notice anything there.
3. There's nothing I can do about it and it's never going to go away
This is my biggest fear. I am so scared of the idea that this is just the way my vision will always be now. I know I probably lived with it at some level for some time and didn't notice, but that that I'm aware of it, I can't get used to it. The grain aspect isn't fun but the bigger problem is that feeling that it's moving or flashing or whatever static type thing it's doing. It's so distracting and now that I see it it makes me queasy if I focus on it. It's like I can trust my eyes, nothing is still and that bothers me so much.
I'm willing to accept that part of this might be stress related. I have suffered panic attacks in the past and the ER situation did put me in a very scared state about my vision. On the other hand, this has been the only time in my life I've ever worried about my vision in a major way and I do remember noticing years ago that I had something like this to some degree, although again, it's been so long I can't remember how it compares, I just know at the time it was enough to notice but not enough to freak me out like it's doing now. I don't think I'm hallucinating/imagining this out of nothing.
Any and all help would be appreciated. Again, I am so stressed right now, this is ruining my life. I am so worried I'm just going to be told that there's nothing to be done or I'm crazy and imagining it. I don't know if I can get used to this. Please help if you have any insight.
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no eating due to anxiety because I realized I saw static constantly and mostly at night/evening ( in poor lightning ) and during the day when looking at the sky or looking at bigger objects/walls that have a bright color. ( I do see the color but within the color I see the static )
I went to my GP and she sent me to the eye doc who did a pupil dilation test which came out fine, have a visual field test next week, my eye pressure is fine and my eye sight aswell, I never wore glasses, I believe my visual snow is caused due to an anxiety attack / stress and now I cannot ‘unsee’ the static which bothers me a little but doesn’t cause me anxiety anymore ( almost 4 weeks after ) I now eat more healthy than before and I was working behind the computer for 7 years from home with little to none social interaction which caused me to have a mild form of agoraphobia and social anxiety / derealization, I minimalize the amount I ‘work’ and I even applied for a real job for 1-2 days a week because I knew for years I needed to step up, but never actually have the guts to do so, afcourse I want to make sure I’m healthy so I undergo these tests but then again.. I ask myself ‘who would I rather be?’
‘A man without static vision that stays inside most of the days, afraid of the outside world to same degrade’
‘A man with static vision that goes outside most of the days, to battle his fears’
I guess it happened for a reason, will update around the summer ( searching symptoms on google really don’t help, for everyone who suffers the same or is walking the same path as I am ) GO outside NOW
Good Morning, @jaja122 Congratulations on your ability to be honest with yourself as you aim to proceed on a new direction with your life. I sincerely hope that you will continue your efforts and will find strength in the tiny rewards along the way. Remember that Connect is always here. I beg you to not wait until summer to get back to us!
I invite you to the discussion group -Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group. Members are encouraging each other and chatting as they make efforts to get up. go outside, and make progress thru difficult situations and health issues. Coincidently a recent post by a member is who mention her dry eye condition.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lets-go-walking-join-me-for-a-virtual-walking-support-group/
I am going to my ophthalmologist this afternoon (another coincidence?) And I would like to ask you whether you are seeing an ophthalmologist who diagnoses and treats eye conditions or an optometrist who checks your vision and prescribes your lenses. My ophthalmologist referred me to a retina specialist who did further tests/scans and diagnosed and treated my eye condition. This is just a suggestion that you might want to investigate.
@ellen307, I read a recent post where you mentioned eye issues. I invite you to thei discussion, perhaps your vision experiences can be helpful and hopeful to @jaja122.
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2 Reactions...i dont want to interfere but happened to notice ... jaja .. and yes Rosemary a referral to an Ophthalmologist (a good one).... am surprised a field of vision test wasnt done.... not an expert but diagnozed with narrow angle glaucoma 2018 by Specialist but not by optometrist who I saw once a year! ... not sure how long I had it prior .... and "field of vision" test, they say, ought to be done with "everyone" at yearly eye exams.... as it is a simple test takes ten minutes.... which can be referred to once a year to determine if field of vision is getting narrower. may I say that just from my own experience, even with very good vision (just had glasses for driving and reading) there could be other things affecting eyes - such as medications; environment, even allergic to material eyeglasses are made from. hope am not intruding on conversation, but to me every little bit of information helps... best of luck jaja. J.S.
@lacy2, Thank you for sharing your experience here. I'm happy that you popped in. On Connect, we encourage participation in the discussions. As a member you have access to all of the Group discussions, the Pages which are written by Mayo staff, Events as they occur, and to join the Champions by sharing Mayo via your social media accounts.
You and @jaja122 can learn more about Connect in: Pages>About Connect: Who, What & Why> Tips for Participating in an Online Community Tips for Participating in an Online Community
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed-post/tips-for-participating-in-an-online-community/
I had a wonderful and thorough examination today, I even told my ophthalmologist that I was going to share it on Connect! He half nodded in approval and disbelief! I had my questions written so I wouldn't forget anything. This doctor is a patient oriented doctor, and his primary goal is to treat his patients. We need more like him! I walked out of the office with a headful of understanding of my current vision situation and a prescription for my left lens only After his thorough eye examination, I learned that my retina occlusion was stable and no signs of any more damage. I brought home some beautiful images of the inside of my eye, and will return next week for an updated visual field test that he feels is a good thing for me right now.
Hopefully in 10-14 days I will see more clearly!
Lacy, keep the information coming!
@jaja122 I'd like to extend my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like your functioning is greatly effected by your symptoms.
It's great your ophthalmologist is doing tests. I have a few questions and please pardon me if these are too many questions. May I ask if you have you been referred to neurology yet? Have they mentioned aura migraines? May I ask if you have been officially diagnosed with anxiety? If you have been diagnosed are your providers attempting to rule out all organic possibilities before they send you to behavioral health?
my field test was good, eye dialation test was good, ophthalmologist assured me its nothing like glaucoma/retina detachment ( i googled that and i was afraid of it ) i am going to a more advanced hospital in the beginning of April and I have the idea that anxiety makes symptoms worse, i have anxiety because of certain things i've changed in my life after the onset of visual snow 7 weeks ago ( in the hope to fix it ) because I have the idea that it's triggered by anxiety.. so if i can overcome my anxiety i would most likely lose the visual snow aswell, I am the type of person that google's everything im kind of a hypochondriac and I can worry over fysicial symptoms pretty quick, I've had the same stuff 2 years ago with my throat.. globus feeling / heartburn, did alot of tests back then and all came out fine.. anxiety / stress can cause ALOT of fysical symptoms.. I am a wise guy and i know how to take care of myself i dont do drugs nor do i drink alcohol but yes.. this visual snow is depressing.. but i MUST evolve to a better version of myself and hope for it to fade away over time / a possible cure would be found.. i'm not the only one experiencing this.. but checking reddit/google everyday and hear other's claiming their snow worsens / it might never go away.. makes me miserable so i rather dont do that, thats why i said i will reply here again around summer.. and about that neurologial part.. i am going to talk someone in the near future ( psychologist ) i needed one anyways because i return to a normal job and have anxiety related to all those changes, BUT i also still want to see a neurologist and will be 🙂
this is called Visual Snow, i have it from as long i can remember
@navjohal, Good Morning.
Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, an online community where people can share experiences and ask each other questions about any health issue.
I see you have been experiencing Visual Snow for a while now. I have a different eye condition that is driving me crazy as I am precataract and learning to be patient with patience. Would you tell us a little more about your experience? For example: Do you know what caused it? Has it affected your daily living? Do you need treatment or any visual accommodations?
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1 ReactionHi, how are you doing?
Did the symptoms go away? Did you find the cause.
Im going through the exact same thing, and the optometrist doesn't seem to understand what i feel. The visual snow pictures online is not accurately explaining what i feel.
Let me know how did you cope?
@pc0t, visual snow is often misunderstood or unfamiliar even to some eye specialists.
I think you might appreciate this video with Dr. Carrie Robertson, a Mayo Clinic neurologist and leading specialist in dealing with visual snow. She explains the rare disorder and what can be done to treat it.
https://youtu.be/ISYJ5zoH9Ng