Visual stimuli

Visual stimuli transitorily worsening the the intensity of persistent aura symptoms include darkness, brightness, looking at the sky, looking at plain walls, looking at a computer screen, car driving and reading. Many of these visual stimuli have previously been reported as trigger factors of migraine (Debney, 1984; Hay et al., 1994).

Darkness

Definite persistent aura without infarction

"I notice it most in darkness..."

(nnis [subject #20], Email to Sofia Greene, undated [April 2005])

"Here are my symptoms now... NOTE SYMPTOMS WORSE AT NIGHT"

(Scarlett Agricola [subject #37], Ezboard forum Visual snow and static – Surveys – Drug caused snow survey, January 1, 2006)

"Also, this snow you guys speak of, I get when I look at the sky; thousands of bubbles and it's way worse at night."

(schimdog [subject #52], The Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum, Topic: Neurology – General, Subject: visual disturbances, January 11, 2006)

"Also, I've noticed lots of people on here complain of looking at the sky and the stars. This is really bad for me. I see millions of 'snow' that move around in my field of vision. It's also worse at night."

(schimdog [subject #52], Ezboard Forum Visual snow or static – Discussion – Sticky: survey responses, January 18, 2006)

"Semi-darkness also encourages some symptoms..."

(Jane10 [subject #23], Email to Klaus Podoll, January 25, 2006)

"Undoubtedly many of the visual symptoms are worse in lowlight and darkness (e.g. black dots/grids/undulating black shapes)"

(Jane10 [subject #23], Email to Klaus Podoll, February 18, 2006)

"I have this as well, when I'm in the dark for a couple of minutes my vision starts fickering and I see the flourescent lights or waves. Sometimes my eyes hurt from it as if I looked into a bright light. I can only make it go away by turning on the light..."

(Gyps Kindra [subject #120], Ezboard forum Visual snow and static – Discussion – Flickering vision, May 27, 2006)

"I see MORE static... in the dark..."

(Gyps Kindra [subject #120], Ezboard forum Visual snow and static – Discussion -when you don't see snow?, June 20, 2006)

"Darkness - worse (all the time in darkness). In addition to VS, there is a 'starbursting fire works show' going on in my vision. I have to be in total darkness for this to happen. If I close my eyes in a bright room, such that light comes in through my eyelids, I see the VS but no starbursting and fireworks show in my vision. It is like my brain can't stand the absence of light on the retina, so it has to put on a fireworks show for me every night I try to sleep."

(starrant [subject #138], Ezboard forum Visual snow or static – Discussion - Visual stimuli making vs intensity transitorily worse, October 10, 2006)

"The visual snow seems to get worse... at night."

(CherylT [subject #145], Email to Sofia Greene, July 10, 2006)

"It [i.e. visual snow] was much worse in the night"

(Snow1974 [subject #159], Email to Klaus Podoll, August 2, 2006; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

"... it [i.e. visual snow] was much stronger when I looked in the night at grass - many many white spots are jumping out just like snow."

(Snow1974 [subject #159], Email to Klaus Podoll, August 3, 2006; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

"The intensity of visual snow worsens in dawn and darknesss..."

(RT [subject #162], Email to Klaus Podoll, August 18, 2006)

"It [visual snow] is the worst in the dark."

(ansorgecj [subject #217], Email to Sofia Greene, October 27, 2006; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

Brightness

Definite persistent aura without infarction

"Somewhat related is the fact I seem to have found a trigger for my migraine lights. My blind spots are apparently brought on by sunlight. If I go outside, I become about 1/4 blinded [i.e. quadrantanopia], even on an overcast day. Mom has lent me a pair of old lady shades, the kind that fit over your eyeglasses and practically your whole face. They're ugly as sin, but they just might do the trick.

My blindness is also brought on my brushing my teeth. The bathroom light paired with the sawing motion of the toothbrush also brings on the spots.

I'm sure I must be a vampire. Dim lights seem to be about all I can handle. Well, dye my hair red and call me a Settite!"

(The ShanMonster [subject #75], The ShanMonster Page, May 13, 2003; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

"Undoubtedly, bright sunlight and tiredness are factors in the sense that they exacerbate the frequency, extremity and duration of the symptoms..."

(Jane10 [subject #23], Email to Sofia Greene, June 5, 2005)

"These patches of light are worse however in bright sunshine and when driving."

(Jane10 [subject #23], Email to Klaus Podoll, January 26, 2006)

"Bright light, like very sunny days with the sun reflecting off snow can trigger it. So can camera flashes, at times. Other than that, I've noticed no particular triggers."

(The ShanMonster [subject #75], Email to Klaus Podoll, April 19, 2006)

"I see MORE static... on bright surfaces"

(Gyps Kindra [subject #120], Ezboard forum Visual snow and static – Discussion -when you don't see snow?, June 20, 2006)

"It's [i.e. visual snow] most obvious in bright sunlight..."

(Wendi Triplet Mom [subject #147], Ezboard forum Visual snow or static – Archive - Thankful I found you!, August 19, 2003)

Looking at the sky

Metro Dynamics, Window, 2006. "In addition to the persistent 'buzz' or static-like disturbance and floaters, I've depicted the dim dark pulsations that sometimes occur at the lower periphery of my vision. The scene is a view out an airplane window." © 2006 Metro Dynamics [more]

Definite persistent aura without infarction

"I also have problems when looking at the sky ... – they sort of turn into stars."

(Sofia Greene [subject #1], undated Email [2005])

"Trails/blurs/blobs – of various colours, usually blue/red/yellow, particularly in bright sunlight or when looking at a mottled/textured surface; happens all the time but especially when looking at the sky ..."

(Jane10 [subject #23], Email to Klaus Podoll, January 26, 2006)

"Visual snow, it's worse when I look at the sky both in the day and at night."

(schimdog [subject #52], Email to Klaus Podoll, February 19, 2006)

"I have persistent low-level visual snow... It seems to become more prominent when I am on a plane in the air, however."

(candace [subject #104], Email to Klaus Podoll, May 19, 2006)

"Looking at the sky - Always bad. Always intense visual snow, and if during the day, can always see blood cells shooting everywhere along with floaters. This is the case even on dark cloudy days. At night if I look at the sky, I just see intense visual snow but no floaters or entopitic phenomenon. This is why I like being outside at night overall better than during the day unless I am in a forest or something during the day with plenty of detail to help mask the VS and other symptoms."

(starrant [subject #138], Ezboard forum Visual snow or static – Discussion - Visual stimuli making vs intensity transitorily worse, October 10, 2006)

"It [visual snow] is most noticeable when looking at... the blue sky."

(ansorgecj [subject #217], Email to Sofia Greene, October 27, 2006; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

Looking at a blank wall

Definite persistent aura without infarction

"It's still there, I still see it when I focus on a wall..."

(Gyps Kindra [subject #120], Ezboard forum Visual snow or static – Discussion – same thing for me, November 7, 2003)

"I also have problems when looking at ... white walls – they sort of turn into stars."

(Sofia Greene [subject #1], undated Email [2005])

"I notice it most... when I look at a blank wall."

(nnis [subject #20], Email to Sofia Greene, undated [April 2005])

"All of her auras are visible in both eyes and are visible in darkness and when she closes her eyes. They are more visible when she is looking at certain colors of blank walls."

(C [father of subject #30], Rondas Migraine Page – Migrainepage Discussion Forum - "Persistent Migraine Aura", July 20, 2005)

"It's also worse against a white background. All white rooms (e.g. doctors' offices) drive me crazy."

(schimdog [subject #52], Email to Klaus Podoll, February 19, 2006)

"... plain backgrounds appear to have so much VS on them."

(b c c runner [subject #73], Ezboard forum Visual snow or static – Discussion – Question, April 14, 2006)

"Basically, looking at a white wall is like looking into a swirling void like the twighlight zone with hundreds of these cells darting everywhere with visual snow and afterimages!"

(starrant [subject #138], Ezboard forum Visual snow or static – Discussion - All kinds of symptoms! anyone else - age and other stuff, July 6, 2006)

"It is kind of funny how that works. For me, looking at a plain surface is like looking into the twilight zone with the VS. Looking at something detailed though, the VS kind of blends in. I can still 'see' it in the sense that I can still see the movement, but looking at something detailed is not like staring into the twilight zone. If only I could always live underground where instead of plain sky and white walls it was walls of dirt, or too bad I couldn't live in the middle of a forest all the time. Although my symptoms aren't quite as noticeable in very detailed environments, it can sometimes be dizzinging unfortunetely in those environments..."

(starrant [subject #138], Ezboard forum Visual snow or static – Discussion - Stucko (textured) ceilings, August 14, 2006)

"Looking at any object against a solid-colored wall is very rough though. For me and most other people on this board, solid colored walls really bring out the worst in all the symptoms. Looking at any object against a solid colored background is rough with the constant after-images. Also, it makes it easy to see floaters drifiting with every movement of my eyes which can be very annoying too."

(starrant [subject #138], Ezboard forum Visual snow or static – Discussion - Scheerer's phenomenon with VS?, August 21, 2006)

"Looking at plain walls - Always bad and the same as looking at the sky. Any solid-colored wall is bad with white walls being the worst. Detailed walls such as brick walls, wood walls, etc. aren't near as bad. I can still sense the VS, but the Vs is 'invisible' and 'blended into the object' such that I can still detect the movement of the VS. Despite how bad the VS and other symptoms are, I can still see fine detail, in fact I believe my eyes are 20/15, and I can pass all the standard vision tests with flying colors (imagine that)."

(starrant [subject #138], Ezboard forum Visual snow or static – Discussion - Visual stimuli making vs intensity transitorily worse, October 10, 2006)

"Yeah, for me looking at a white wall is like staring at the portal to HELL!!"

(starrant [subject #138], Ezboard forum Visual snow or static – Discussion – help, December 15, 2006)

"It [visual snow] is most noticeable when looking at blank walls..."

(ansorgecj [subject #217], Email to Sofia Greene, October 27, 2006; additions in square brackets by Klaus Podoll)

Looking at computer screen

Definite persistent aura without infarction

"I see MORE static when: -looking at a computer screen..."

(Gyps Kindra [subject #120], Ezboard forum Visual snow and static – Discussion -when you don't see snow?, June 20, 2006)

"As for the computer, I have the same effect from reading printed text. I think its the strain from simply reading, however like other people on here have noted, the type and quality of monitor for the computer work does also make a difference."

(SopuliSusie [subject #405], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - Alcohol or PC??, December 10, 2007)

Car driving

Jane10 [subject #23], Persistent aura, 2006. © 2006 Jane10 [more]

Definite persistent aura without infarction

"These patches of light are worse however ... when driving."

(Jane10 [subject #23], Email to Klaus Podoll, January 26, 2006)

Reading

Definite persistent aura without infarction

"Tiny bright white exploding stars - several times a day and almost exclusively after a prolonged period of reading, I will see tiny pinpricks of white light, which look exactly like small exploding stars, especially around the margins of a page. Once they start they will not stop unless I stop reading and focus generally around the room. However, even if I take a break from reading and go back to a book/paper later on they will reoccur with increasing regularity."

(Jane10 [subject #23], Email to Klaus Podoll, January 26, 2006)

"I noticed the snow gets worse when I have to do a lot of reading"

(Snow1974 [subject #159], Email to Klaus Podoll, August 2, 2006)

Possible persistent aura without infarction

"Well, things were looking better. My snow was slowly fading, my mind was racing (a good kind), and I was becoming efficient again. But, well, randomly, my snow got 10x worse than it ever has.

Same with my autokinesis.

But this time, things were not the same.

The snow, wasn't moving around as it usually does. It was still moving yes, but not like it's normal static self. I mean ahh, the amount of snow in my vision, going to the washroom I had to hold out my hand in the hallway. I felt blind. I've also been experiencing random back back, and holy crap it hurts. I can barely move.

Anyway this snows behavior was so different. And the autokinesis was just crazy. To be able to sleep I had to close my eyes and try my hardest not to open them. One peek, and I was wide awake. I had things moving nearly 1 foot from their original positions. Everything was moving, it was crazy. Back and forth, warping, changing shapes.

The darkness was interesting too. I was seeing random dark shapes, that reminded me of clouds. They were floating around my room, and instead of being pressed against things like snow, they were 3d.

And the snow too, it was acting different. It was becoming 3d too! I mean snow, is usually 2d, against things. It never actually separated, and seemed to be matter itself. But it did. It also changed a lot, like the size of the dots decreased. The snow, considering how much it lost its dynamics and how small the dots got, seemed like a film. A 3d one! Like water.

As for my senses, they became heightened beyond belief. I think that has something to do with how when you go blind, your other senses are increased. I wasn't blind, but there was so much going on I might as well have been. Yeah though, they were increased sooo much. I jumped from hearing a guy cough OUTSIDE my house. Yeah, not just noticed, but jumped. It seemed so loud.

Well, I guess this wasn't completely random. It happened after I read a novel from start to finish. The last Harry Potter book baby. My back was in severe pain, so I couldn't do much really. I decided to read it, and being my usual hardcore self I never stopped reading it until I finished. This is actually what I think caused it. See, for one I was staring at the same spot (sort of) but looking back and forth (from reading!). This motion was repetitive, and since I get after images... Also, if VS is actually just noise in the system from it being over active then it would be my imagination. Books use a tonne of imagination, everybody knows that. Well, reading a novel of that size start to finish may have started it.

In the end, I've never experienced snow that bad. Things were warping, melting, dark clouds floating around, snow so thick it seemed like a medium I was living in, and increased senses. Things aren't as bad now, but they are still bad. Considering the intensity, I'm going to go get tests done today. Wow, I thought I lost my mind again. Stupid crazy ass vision.

Cya guys later!"

(fedorac [subject #557], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - Randomly for worse, April 15, 2008)

"I just read the last book in one sitting. Start to finish, I took 2 breaks so I could go to the washroom and grab water. Either way, when I was done reading the autokinesis was at its max. It lasted until I went to sleep, where my dreams were all involving the book lol. I finished at about 3 a.m. Today it isn't anywhere near as bad, cause I slept. It's still bad though, but nowhere near. I had never tripped out that bad before, even when I was on mushrooms. I couldn't even look in my closet cause of the stupid dark clouds.

And yeah, you know auras right? Not the migrane auras, but the auras you see around objects? Like if I were to hold a cup up, it would have some messed aura. Yeah well, I was getting that for objects that weren't there. That is auras were taking the shape of things that didn't exist. Usually they're only around objects, and people. It reminds me of water, and how you get that little meniscus when you have something floating on the surface. Well yeah it was there for things that weren't there. And yeah, finally it took the shape of a person. It freaked the hell out of me, cause it was completely 3d, and in such perfect form. I wasn't spoken to or anything, it didn't even react to me (as if I didn't exist). It was sure weird. It wasn't scary after a few minutes, and I started to examine it. It would be a person, chubby, approx 5-5.5 feet fall.

My theory is my monitor. I got a 32 inch monitor, and I read the book on the monitor. I turned the brightness to 42, and the backlight to 0. I do this cause I hate the rank ass after images I get if my monitor is bright.

Anyway, I'm about 5'0 sitting down. I think by reading that book non stop, the reflection of myself burned into my eyes somehow. My monitor is LCD though, and isn't very reflective. Still, the white background makes sense. I probably just got my image burned into my eyes, but why it was beside me and didn't move is beyond me (as in when I looked left, and right, it didn't move with my eyes).

Some of my things from last carried on into today. For example the spiders, I kept seeing spiders and I kept getting bit. Yup, there were spiders, and I was getting bit. I got blood on me :-/. I got one of the little bastards though, safely squished between my notepad and my hard wood floor.

At least it's gone now. Although it was sure as hell entertaining seeing random vibes Free drugs!!"

(fedorac [subject #557], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - Randomly for worse, April 15, 2008)

"So it [i.e. the Harry Potter book] was 759 pages long.

The problems got really bad about half way through the novel.
I started at about 1130 AM. Finished at around 3 AM (I'm a slow reader).
At about 4 PM things started getting worse.
At about 6, my hearing and other senses started to change.
At about 8 PM, my senses reached their peak (really really edgy).
at 11 PM, the negative images were kind of stuck there and the snow seemed to stop vibrating too.
Between 11 PM and 3 Am, the only real increase was auto kenisis. Everything else stayed about the same.
By 3 AM, it was intense. Snow everywhere, floating shadows, and those auras.

Yes, that link to the site is pretty much it.

So I went to doctors, and he just told me to see a shrink. Urgh. What makes me mad is how severe COULD be, and yet he thinks it's in my head. I mean I've had double vision for a year now (shut one eye and I still see two anyway). I got visual disturbances, I'm getting randomly dizzy, I'm hearing ringing in my ears (it's weird, cause it sounds so loud sometimes but yet I can still hear a pencil scratch), and yet it isn't worth looking into? I mean I'd understand if he referred me to a shrink AFTER I got an MRI done, and was seen by an eye specialist. I actually went there once a year ago cause I was getting so sick I had to force feed myself. He gave me a shrink card too, right off the bat. What a &^%^.

Later dudes."

(fedorac [subject #557], Yuku forum Visual snow or static - General discussion - Randomly for worse, April 15, 2008)

References

Debney LM. Visual stimuli as migraine trigger factors. In: Rose FC (ed) Progress in migraine research II. Pitman, London 1984, p. 30–54.
Hay KM, Mortimer MJ, Barker DC, Debney LM, Good PA. 1044 women with migraine: the effect of environmental stimuli. Headache 1994; 34: 166-168.

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