Being prepared is key. A doctor’s visit often only takes a few minutes, and in the process, it is common for the doctor to know little to nothing about Visual Snow or Visual Snow Syndrome.
- Make a list of your symptoms.
You can use our symptom list. Make a note of how long you experience the symptoms, just to be sure. - Take this research paper about VSS to your doctor.
You can give this article (link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31941797/) to your doctor with the intention that you share a reliable source of information about VSS. Of course, stating that you do not expect him/her to read it all the way through, as there is not all the time for that. You can highlight the sentences that are most important. For instance: the official diagnosis code and that VSS is a neurological disorder. - Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s psychological.
Visual Snow and Visual Snow Syndrome are neurological disorders. Moreover, there is no evidence that it is caused by stress, anxiety or depression in contrary to what can be found online. If you feel you need psychological help, this can only be helpful as a support mechanism. - Make sure you consult with the right specialists and get the right medical exam.
Visual Snow and Visual Snow Syndrome are still difficult to diagnose. However, it is recommended that you be examined by both a neurologist and an ophthalmologist. According to VSS experts, it is important to rule out other conditions. A comprehensive examination at the ophthalmologist to rule out ophthalmic disorders that may be similar in symptoms to VSS. It’s also very important to visit a neurologist to have an MRI, EEG, and VEP-test to rule out other neurological disorders. Below are two research papers that express the need to be examined by an eye specialist and a neurologist to rule out other neurological and/or ophthalmic disorders. It may be helpful to take the articles below with you to the doctor.
“Retinal and neurological diseases should be ruled out as possible causes of VS(S) symptoms.”
“Advice to rule out other underlying diseases/disorders when receiving a patient with VS(S) symptoms”