Resolution of Visual Snow Syndrome Symptoms Through Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation, Chromatic Filters, and Syntonic Phototherapy: A Case Report.

Background: Visual snow syndrome is a neurological disorder comprising an array of visual and non-visual symptoms, the hallmark symptom being the perception of static-like dots covering the entire visual field. Interest in and awareness of visual snow syndrome have grown considerably in recent years...

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Published in:Optometry & Visual Performance Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 15 - 23
Main Author: DeStefano, Michael
Format: case study tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Optometric Extension Program Jun2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jun2026
      vid: 14
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      pub: Optometric Extension Program
      place: Lutherville Timonium, Maryland
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        atl: Resolution of Visual Snow Syndrome Symptoms Through Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation, Chromatic Filters, and Syntonic Phototherapy: A Case Report.
      aug:
        au: DeStefano, Michael
        affil: Optometrist, Visual Symptoms Treatment Center BS (Biology) and BA (Italian), Loyola University Chicago, 2016
      sug:
        subj:
          Vision Disorders
          Combined Modality Therapy
          Nervous System Diseases
          Rehabilitation of Persons with Vision Loss
          Male
          Adolescence
          Reading
          Physical Examination
          Phototherapy Methods
          Eyeglasses
          Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis
          Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Drug Therapy
          Patient History Taking
          Visual Fields Evaluation
          Visual Acuity Evaluation
          Eye Movements
          Relaxation
          Somatoform Disorders Therapy
          Vision Tests
          Therapeutic Exercise Methods
          Anxiety Prevention and Control
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Male
      ab: Background: Visual snow syndrome is a neurological disorder comprising an array of visual and non-visual symptoms, the hallmark symptom being the perception of static-like dots covering the entire visual field. Interest in and awareness of visual snow syndrome have grown considerably in recent years. Case Report: This case focuses on a 17-yearold male patient who initially presented with complaints related to reading. Examination uncovered binocular vision and oculomotor difficulties. He had a history of coexisting attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder, past psychological and physical abuse at school, and constant anxiety. He also confirmed an array of visual and neurological symptoms that he had not known were abnormal: static in his vision, palinopsia, afterimages, and tinnitus, among others. Syntonic phototherapy intervention eliminated the patient's feelings of anxiety and inattentiveness, while a chromatic filter eliminated his visual disturbances. Adding low amounts of ambient prism eliminated his motion sensitivity; the patient was then prescribed glasses containing that filter and prism combination. He then completed a vision therapy program. By the end of the program, his visual disturbances, attention difficulties, and anxiety were gone, even when not wearing his glasses. Conclusions: This case report demonstrates that, while people with visual snow syndrome may often respond differently to various treatments, visual snow syndrome is, in fact, possible to eliminate. Furthermore, it reflects the potential of nonpharmacological interventions, such as chromatic filters and syntonic phototherapy, to improve mental functions such as mood and attention.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        case study
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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