r/visualsnow • u/EntertainmentLow2771 • 2d ago

Question Blindness in the morning after waking up

I have been suffering with Visual snow symptoms such as static, floating, after image, photophobia etc, for more than 10 years and i thought eventually i will be blind. And last a few years I really started to have problem that I got blindness in my eyes for a few minutes after waking up. It’s happened only one side each times(but I experienced for both sides just not come at the same time) of course I was with ophthalmologist and neurologist. They run many tests and everything turns out normal and conclusion is migraines, i tried to convince them about visual snow symptoms too but they didn’t really pay attention.

Anyone experienced the same symptoms at me?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

1

u/BicyclinBabe 2d ago

Go to a different neurologist and ask to go to occupational therapy. Do you have issues with your sleep quality? If so, request a sleep study- not getting rest is horrible for your brain.

2

u/BicyclinBabe 2d ago

Show them the VSS diagnostic criteria. Print it out ahead of time and highlight your symptoms. Bring example photos of what your symptoms are like (the VSI website has some examples)

https://www.visualsnowinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/visual-snow-diagnostic-criteria-v14.pdf

1

u/BicyclinBabe 2d ago

Unfortunately you have to be your biggest advocate! I got VSS after a head/neck injury. I couldn’t look at a screen for more than a couple hours, could barely read, my brain wouldn’t sleep, and driving was horrible and tbh dangerous. Occupational therapy improved my symptoms significantly. I kept having sensitivities, headaches, and migraines so I kept advocating for myself and my neurologist recommended physical therapy for my neck. I feel like a new person, with minimal impacts now. Do I still have static 24/7? Yea, but it’s faint and unobtrusive to my daily life now. I get MAYBE 1-2 headaches a week whereas I had a 24/7 headache before with 1-2 migraines per week.

1

u/Flimsy-Mix-190 2d ago

Yes. I have migraine with aura and I go blind in my right eye. Sometimes its total blindness and other times its blind spots. I have also gotten it when waking up and sometimes its woken me up, which is really weird because I know its happening, even in deep sleep. I also have VSS. It appears that VSS is common in people who have migraine as well.