Visual Snow Thread - Experiences, Causes, Reliefs

[NodeCerebri]

Just wanted to gather everything related to visual snow in this thread.
I would like to know your experiences and thoughts.
I think this condition is also serotonin related, but the cause stays scientifically unknown still.
Lowering stress and everything related to it helped a little, but only a little.
Maybe some of you have better insights.

 

[Andman]

you mean eye floaters?

 

[opson123]

you mean eye floaters?

Visual snow - Wikipedia

 

[thomas00]

Someone on another thread was talking about how their eye floaters disappeared once they went on the keto diet. I assume this is an LPS thing, with all the mess that can create.

 

[NodeCerebri]

Well Visual snow is something different from floaters, because it appears to be neurological/neurophthalmological. That’s why I am keen to hear from some experienced people, floaters are more of biological nature. And way more bearable than this visual snow.

 

[methylenewhite]

I have it about 20 years. It is somehow related to brain activity and energy supply. Low blood sugar makes it worse. Many psychoactive substances changes visual snow patterns. I kinda believe it mirrors current brain activity. It started suddenly, I was a kid and manifestation of it scared my shitless.

 

[NodeCerebri]

So you mean Visual Snow correlates with enhanced activity in certain brain regions? yeah blood sugar regulation is crucial. But there has to be a way to make them disappear again?
It got better when I was taking methylene blue, but I don’t want to do it because of its potent MAOI activity (and I Love aged cheese lol). That’s why I thought it’s maybe related to serotonin.

 

[Sexypizza]

I got it after using Viagra. Doesn't go away.

Dunno what to do.

Mine is kind of mild though. Most of the time I don't notice it. It's more noticeable if I'm looking at a plain black or white background or at night time with no lights on.

 

[Broco6679]

I think it's serotonin, too. I have extremely bad visual snow and it all started after taking a large dose of LSD, which is a strong serotonin antagonist.
I've never found anything that helps, but there are many substances that will make it worse. I also have most other symptoms of HPPD; there's a good example of visual snow in that link for those interested.

 

[GenericName86]

Would love to see if anyone else can chime in with experiences or have heard of anything that could help. Maybe someone can message Peat and ask what he thinks? I've read some people have had theirs reduced by lithium but others have said it's gotten worse so it's a coin toss based on anecdotal evidence

 

[hei]

This is not normal? What do normal people see, solid colours like a picture?

 

[NodeCerebri]

I really had success with methylene blue lately. That visual snow got away for a solid week! And everything was so bright and clear and looking into the light was not a burden again.. but unfortunately, it also seemed to increase serotonin, because I couldn’t sleep soundly or eat anything for days like I usually did.. and then in the course of 4-6 weeks it was there again in full effect admittedly not so strong as it was before, but still. So clearly serotonin related, maybe indirectly. Some people had success with Lamotrigin (AD with strong side effects), because of that they think some overactive areas in the brain are the cause.. will link the study if I find it again.

 

[NodeCerebri]

I think it's serotonin, too. I have extremely bad visual snow and it all started after taking a large dose of LSD, which is a strong serotonin antagonist.
I've never found anything that helps, but there are many substances that will make it worse. I also have most other symptoms of HPPD; there's a good example of visual snow in that link for those interested.

Yep, I experienced it after Hawaiian babies and adderall consumption years ago.

 

[NodeCerebri]

Would love to see if anyone else can chime in with experiences or have heard of anything that could help. Maybe someone can message Peat and ask what he thinks? I've read some people have had theirs reduced by lithium but others have said it's gotten worse so it's a coin toss based on anecdotal evidence

To be honest from what I’ve read and heard and experienced, I don’t think that there is a general cure for this, every man for himself has to figure out and try some things, because the activity of some brain areas can be so different in every individual experiencing this. I mean I experienced it in two different ways myself after the MB “rewiring” of my brain. But yeah would love to know what Ray Peat thinks and recommends. He already made so many impossibilities possible so... :)

 

[NodeCerebri]

Log update: everything that lowers serotonin makes the visual snow worse, especially during daytime. I don’t seem to suffer that much in the night anymore. Years ago the flashes were very bright and vivid at night.
Also after power naps of 15 min during daytime the visual snow is the worst after waking up, but returns to baseline after 5 minutes. I am researching.

 

[CreakyJoints]

I've had this my entire life, I thought everyone did.

I remember asking adults when I was a kid if they could see it, and when they didn't understand I thought it was just because I wasn't explaining it properly - some even told me to stop making things up. I feel bizarrely vindicated now, but also this makes me sad to know that I've never once seen the world how everyone else does.

For me though, it's very very consistent - it doesn't become better or worse with anything as far as I've noticed, and it's always there.

 

[NodeCerebri]

I've had this my entire life, I thought everyone did.

I remember asking adults when I was a kid if they could see it, and when they didn't understand I thought it was just because I wasn't explaining it properly - some even told me to stop making things up. I feel bizarrely vindicated now, but also this makes me sad to know that I've never once seen the world how everyone else does.

For me though, it's very very consistent - it doesn't become better or worse with anything as far as I've noticed, and it's always there.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! You’re definitely not alone or making things up. But I think you’re better of, since you were blessed with it already as a child. And that it’s constant. This variation drives me a bit crazy and I wish it would return to how it was.
If it’s not too personal, would you mind telling me if there are any psychiatric comorbidities in your case? I am trying to wrap my mind around how the visual processing works in relation to certain brain area activities. There’s not that much research on it unfortunately.

 

[Ben.]

2 things i noticed :

1. Glass (like windows in buses or buildings) or putting plastic wrap above text on a book helps alot when reading or seeing stuff "normally".

2. Wim Hof breathing (breath holds) either helps to reduce it/make it go away ... or it intensifies it. Can't put my fingers on it tho ...

Stress calming methods seem to help alot in my case. But i have to say i only have it for a year now and it usually reduces to a level where i dont notice it/doesnt handicap me or even goes away for the majority of the day..


Do you guys wear glasses or have yellowish/bloodridden eyes? Pain behind the eyebrows? I got these symptoms along with the visual snow and the issue with seeing sharp.

 

[NodeCerebri]

2 things i noticed :

1. Glass (like windows in buses or buildings) or putting plastic wrap above text on a book helps alot when reading or seeing stuff "normally".

2. Wim Hof breathing (breath holds) either helps to reduce it/make it go away ... or it intensifies it. Can't put my fingers on it tho ...

Stress calming methods seem to help alot in my case. But i have to say i only have it for a year now and it usually reduces to a level where i dont notice it/doesnt handicap me or even goes away for the majority of the day..


Do you guys wear glasses or have yellowish/bloodridden eyes? Pain behind the eyebrows? I got these symptoms along with the visual snow and the issue with seeing sharp.

It seems definitely stress related.
my eyes are white and not blood ridden though. There is also no pain behind eyebrows but I get a strange headache behind my forehead when under stress f.e.

I also think that it is strongly connected to electrolytes in the brain. When there is too much water, too little salt, inadequate calcium metabolism etc which all get disturbed when under stress especially with dysfunctional HPA axis.

 

[Ben.]

It seems definitely stress related.
my eyes are white and not blood ridden though. There is also no pain behind eyebrows but I get a strange headache behind my forehead when under stress f.e.

I also think that it is strongly connected to electrolytes in the brain. When there is too much water, too little salt, inadequate calcium metabolism etc which all get disturbed when under stress especially with dysfunctional HPA axis.

Mhhh it always goes back to the gut and the Bloodbrain barrier huh? ...

Something else i want to add, i mostly see the visual snow or ant crawling or tv hissing or w/e on white walls in buildings or other one colored flat surfaces.
I experienced alot of relief and stress calming going to places with grass, bushes or forrests and going into "observation". The structures of plants and trees seem to have an oddly calming effect. If one can do it without being in a stressed overthinking state i feel this helps alot in reducing stress while simultaneously reducing the daily strain on the eyes from computers/citys.

I've read this book of a neurologists that the brain regenerates mostly in sleep or when we are in nature/daydreaming and do nothing and think nothing.

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I think another thing contributing to this besides gut health could be postural issues. Maybe a injury, scar or some sticky fascia or some slacking muscles causing tension towards the muscles working the eyes/fascial movements who have to take over the load or are under constant strain , maybe even causing inflammation.

The pain may not be behind the eyebrows but the nervers are very close to where you describe it. have you done excercises/selfmassages on your head/face?