Prevalence of visual snow syndrome in the UK

Abstract

44.8 AE 15 years), although this was not statistically different (P = 0.06). Of 22 participants with visual snow syndrome, 16 had mood symptoms (72.7%; P = 0.01), 12 had headache (54.5%; P = 0.06), including five with visual migraine aura (22.7%; P = 0.15) and 13 had tinnitus (59.1%; P < 0.001). No participant had diabetes or a cleft lip (control questions). Following a multivariable regression analysis to adjust for age and gender, only the association between visual snow syndrome and tinnitus remained significant (odds ratio, 3.93; 95% CI, 1.63-9.9; P = 0.003). Conclusions: The UK prevalence of visual snow syndrome is around 2%. We confirmed an association with tinnitus, but unprimed laypeople with visual snow syndrome are on average older than those seeking medical attention.

The Prevalence of Different Types of Headache in Patients with Subjective Tinnitus and Its Influence on Tinnitus Parameters: A Prospective Clinical Study

“…This devastating neurological condition is associated with the continuous perception of tiny dots in entire visual field, resembling snow. Kondziela et al found that the prevalence of visual snow syndrome is around 2% and revealed the association of this condition with tinnitus and headache, mostly migraine [48]. Another study not only confirmed this finding but also revealed that both tinnitus and migraine intensify visual snow by producing more additional visual symptoms [49].…”

“…This scale is a survey with 25 items and divided into three subscales: functional, catastrophic, and emotional, with a total score ranging from 0 to 100. It grades five tinnitus severity categories: slight (0-16); mild (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36); moderate (38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56); severe (58-76); and catastrophic (78-100). Psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus, including its loudness and pitch, were measured using the standard clinical method by presenting sounds similar to those described by the patient [27,28].…”

[123I]-IMP single-photon emission computed tomography imaging in visual snow syndrome: A case series

“…They claimed that visual snow was a unique syndrome distinct from migraine, and the term visual snow syndrome (VSS) was subsequently introduced (2). VSS seems to be a common condition, with a recent study reporting a 2% prevalence in the general population (3).…”

Visual snow syndrome: is it normal or a disorder – and what to do with patients?

“…In the new study [1], the authors appropriately used the prevalence of cleft lip and diabetes in the UK as a positive control, and found them to be consistent in their cohort. However, the prevalence of migraine (33.4%) and of migraine visual aura (10.9%) are substantially higher than expected from a UK population‐based study: 1‐year prevalence of migraine 14.3%, aura 5.8% [8].…”

“…In general, the condition seems non‐progressive; this is what a gathering of the North American Neuro‐Ophthalmological Society made clear to one of us (PJG) in January 2005, and seems reinforced by the UK population study [1]. When we look at a large population of patients with VSS, there is a range of severity [9].…”