TITLE:
Visual Snow Syndrome in a Medical Professional: A Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Review
AUTHORS:
Francisco Dacarett, Diana Rosales, Angélica Núñez
KEYWORDS:
Visual Snow Syndrome, Palinopsia, Cortical Hyperexcitability, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Thalamocortical Dysrhythmia
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.16 No.2,
March
24,
2026
ABSTRACT: Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS) is a rare, chronic neurological condition characterized by a persistent, dynamic “TV-static” like disturbance across the entire visual field. We present the case of a 32-year-old male medical resident who experienced a sudden onset of VSS following a period of high academic stress and a viral infection. Despite the severity of symptoms, including palinopsia, nyctalopia, and tinnitus, neuro-ophthalmologic examinations—including optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and automated perimetry—revealed no structural abnormalities beyond a bilateral posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). This case highlights the clinical challenge of VSS, where structural integrity contrasts with severe sensory dysfunction. We review the current literature on pathophysiology, emphasizing cortical hyperexcitability and thalamocortical dysrhythmia, and discuss management strategies, including the patient’s subjective improvement with escitalopram, a response rarely documented in broader cohorts.