Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome
also called Meares-Irlen Syndrome, Visual Stress or Visual Snow
Experience Sight2017: my animation of my vision
Snow intensity:
1
2
3
4
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2
3
4
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The visual effects simulated above vary depending on the device being used. The following intensity numbers were chosen while I was using a 1920x1200 resolution 15inch screen and running Microsoft Internet Explorer at zoom 125%.
Text: when reading indoors under natural light (not sunlight) I see at about intensity
number 1.
Under fluorescent lights it increases to at least
number 2 and in bright conditions (e.g. direct sunlight) it can reach
4.
Countryside: generally I see the countryside at about intensity
number 1.
The visual chaos can be overwhelming especially on very bright sunny days when the intensity could easily reach
number 3 or more.
Sunset: mostly the sky has an intensity around
number 1.
However the sky can be very "snowy" especially on bright days or at the coast; the intensity can be at least
number 3.
Comet Hale-Bopp: usually the night sky has an intensity of about
number 1.
My vision always contains the "snow" even in complete darkness. I have never seen total darkness!
I have given the text animation a grey background so that the bright white snowy dots are visible. In reality I see bright white snowy dots moving over black text printed on pure white paper.
More on visual disturbances...
- Stripy or spotty patterns move around violently
- My vision is worse when my eyes are tired
- Going to new places is disorientating and tiring
- I often experience migraines which worsen my eyesight
- Coloured lenses in my glasses reduce my visual snow a little
Tinnitus connection?
Is visual snow the eyesight equivalent of tinnitus? I suffer from tinnitus. I hear low pitch hums (like a car engine idling) and high pitch whistles; my symptoms are most prominent when there is very little external (actual) noise e.g. during night-time.
In 'My World is not Your World' I describe how these visual disturbances affected my life including how hard it was coping when nobody realised my eyesight was defective. For example, during my teenage years I was barely literate.