What is Visual Snow? Transforming Anguish into Action | Sierra Domb | TEDxUMiami

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Visual Snow activist Sierra Domb shares her experience of starting an evolutionary research foundation. Sierra Domb is the Founder of the Visual Snow Initiative (VSI), a non-profit dedicated to awareness, education, and research for Visual Snow Syndrome. After she began experiencing symptoms of Visual Snow, Sierra became a philanthropic pioneer, vowing to help those who suffer from the condition. Her charity has raised millions for Visual Snow. Sierra implemented innovative techniques to generate a significant and positive impact in the lives of thousands of people around the world. In doing so, she gave them a voice they never had. Sierra is passionate about empowering others to overcome any adversity. She also holds a B.S.C. in Communication Studies and is a Writer/Reporter whose articles and photographs have been published in national newspapers. Sierra is also a voice actress and nature photographer. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@godaelvyrapiekute5674]

Suffering with mild symptoms for about a month! Sucks so bad! Hope we all will recover one day :)

[@cjh0751]

Thank you Sierra, I got temporary visual snow syndrome from drinking too much. I was cured by a week's course of diazepam. I know this is not a cure for permanent sufferers of Visual snow syndrome but it made me realise what I went through and I'm making donations to the Visual snow syndrome foundation in the UK. I'm so happy I was cured. But my love for people suffering with the neurological condition has made me feel sympathy for my brothers and sisters. I was lucky Sierra. My downfall was due to my alcohol abuse. I will always give money to visual snow syndrome charity's to help people. I've been there and I thought my life was going to change. My doctor said no driving. I did that because I trust her. I'm better now but I'm still here for my Snow Brothers and sisters.

[@ATX-Hi8]

Thank God this is starting to get more attention. I have suffered with this condition for at least 5 years now and it really sucks. Noone has even heard about it.

[@balexandra848]

Right? Even some eye doctors. I know it’s a neurological issue, but more ophthalmologist and optometrists should know about it

[@michaelclark3476]

17 years for me! I was told I was just anxious and it was in my head so was given antidepressants (which actually made the symptoms worse). No one I spoke to had any idea what I was talking about. I guess I'm not crazy after all :D

[@JPNox]

@@balexandra848 Agree, I went to see 3 different neurologists and 4 ophtalmologists ... 0 neurologists knew about this and only 1 ophthalmologist

[@samuelfajreldines674]

​@@michaelclark3476 I discovered today that I have Visual Snow. I believe I have had this condition since childhood. However, now I'm terrified that the symptoms might worsen. Did your symptoms get worse?

[@RebeccaPaige]

Since I was a child I've had it. Tinnitus too.

[@borodinaaaas]

Thank you so much for bringing up this problem. A lot of people are suffering from this brain disorder and me too. I wish everyone who have it would wake up one day and see clear sky and beautiful world without «tracery»🙏

[@MattStreeter-ge7xw]

I have been dreaming of seeing a clear blue sky since I was a kid or seeing a wall inside a house without snow infront of it .

[@delta11b66]

I suffer from visual snow. I too was searching for years for what i was experencing. A few a weeks ago i found out this is the condition i suffer from. I pray everyday for a cure.

[@poisonproductionzz]

AMAZING. I had no idea a viable treatment is being developed. Brought tears to my eyes. FINALLY. Thank you thank you thank you

[@erikvanderheide1440]

Thank you Sierra for being a face of the VSS community. You did amazing in this TED talk.

[@samuelehrhardt3732]

This has given me hope I never thought I would have in dealing with this condition.

[@ozaixd]

my eye doctors couldn’t find out the reason for the flashes and static I have been having for years !! they all said it was anxiety . I seen multiple eye doctors , neurologists and it drove me insane as everything was “ okay” but still all I see if these flashes 24/7 and it’s so frustrating. I wish I can wake up and just see the world normal. Thank you for this Ted talk and raising awareness for this medical condition. ❤ I love this .

[@ellet8060]

Thankyou for bringing awareness to this disorder. My eye doctor completely ignored my mention of it. I spent so long thinking this was normal, that my eyes were just getting worse with age but I'm only 33.. All I want is to be able to think and see clearly again :(

[@KarayaMoon]

I am looking for the day I can see the sky again! Thank you for advocating for us and helping to find the cure.

[@Bsambuca1]

Hopefully one day I can look up and see the stars

[@flora1goose]

I've had this condition all my life. Until recent years, I assumed everyone saw the world the same way? It has had an incredible influence on my creativity and informed many of my artwork decisions over the years. I've always loved the Impressionist and Pointillist painters and have had a lifelong fascination with texture, film grain , phosphenes or Closed Eye Hallucinations as a result.

[@Sailorsahoyart]

as painter also with vs their whole life you are right on the money its influenced my creative choices in my artwork as well it gives you more ways to approach texture in art and depicting the condition in art is also very fun

[@Asa_exmachina1665]

Me too ! It so good to know I'm not alone

[@samuelfajreldines674]

I discovered today that I have Visual Snow. I believe I have had this condition since childhood. However, now I'm terrified that the symptoms might worsen. Did your symptoms get worse?

[@Sailorsahoyart]

@Samuel Fajreldines I can't speak for everyone since I am only 24 but I have not seen any major changes. It is a good idea to be proactive and get tested for any other eye disorders. I know I'm at risk for like glaucoma so just stay up on ur eye health

[@flora1goose]

@@samuelfajreldines674 My eyesight and condition has remained pretty much the same throughout... but I guess there could be variations for others. I am over 60 now... so certainly stood the test of time 🙂

[@mumoffive2011]

So happy this is finally being talked about! I’ve had VSS since I was born, but the standard American diet, pregnancy, and increased screens definitely worsened it over the years. It got much better when I removed dairy, seed oils, gluten, processed sugar, and grains. It’s not gone, but it’s very very manageable now, and 90% of the time I don’t notice it like I once did.

[@isidorapetkovic1612]

Hi! I have it, and it has gotten worse, since I got pregnant. Have you had any improvement after pregnancy?

[@joevi2593]

Mine always gets better when I fix my diet and posture. But, when I slack off it gets worse. I think my body is punishing me when I dont do those things. My migraines have disappeared since fixing my diet and posture.

[@TheLonelyMoon]

Thank you for people like you for all the efforts. I've lived my life not knowing the name of the condition, if I was going blind, or if it's just normal thing that everyone experience. When I watched a video about visual snow, it instantly clicked on me. I finally felt validated, I finally felt like I wasn't crazy. The tinnitus, light sensitivity, weak night vision, etc. And it felt so liberating

[@jonguardia]

I´ve been suffering with this condition for about 2 years now, it came out of a very intense and stressful time in my life, the next day after it happened I noticed how my eye vission changed. Like she said in the video, I had to do my own research and go to very skeptic doctors about my condition. Thanks to people like her I was able to see that I wasnt going mad or dying and that I wasn´t alone and it's helped me, specially knowing that when I feel impared driving at night or studiyng, reading a book or trying to sleep with ringing in my ears and the anxiety of it all, there's a reason for it and most importantly, there is Hope.

[@Sussyphis]

There's hope?

[@verrnomfurry1954]

I have visual snow too and it's scary, did your vision ever become better or is this sort of a degenerative thing that gets worse?

[@StarHarvestOfficial]

Gives all of us hope for the future. Truly remarkable woman.

[@dokjongsooyoung]

Thank you for this! I started having this syndrome last year and I legit thought I was going blind. Glad to see myself validated.

[@mrj1299]

I feel you brother! I have it now for 9 years.

[@76marajade]

My sister and I have lived with this our entire lives (over 40 years). I hope there is some relief in the future!

[@saidsaad1425]

What's the reason ? I also suffer from it. Does it affect long-term vision?

[@samuelfajreldines674]

I discovered today that I have Visual Snow. I believe I have had this condition since childhood. However, now I'm terrified that the symptoms might worsen. Did your symptoms get worse?

[@cagdasaykr2944]

Sierra domb thank you very much for announcing this issue to the world, unfortunately I have been suffering from this disease for 5 years.

[@stephenjamunar1693]

Simply Amazing. An awe inspiring Journey. For all the trials and tribulations you've faced, you somehow persevered and when there were no options before you, you created one. There are so many people across the world that will be indebted to you for your work with the VSI. Thank you Sierra and Congratulations on all your hard work!

[@katya231]

Thank you so much for raising awareness and articulating the problem so beautifully, dear Sierra! And, of course, for your tireless activity and energy. It was a big relief for me to discover your videos back in 2019 and realize this condition does exist and actually has a name!

[@RenanSouza-wy1sf]

We are finally being heard, thank you!!

[@omaresames]

Thank you for spreading awareness for visual snow I’ve had it since ‘19

[@kileywray9604]

I've always had this and i never knew it was different than the way anyone else saw until just very recently, thank you for this!

[@ajayprasanth9979]

I have VSS since I was 5 years old and now I'm 21... Guys never lose your hope soon there be a solution for VSS .. just reduce screen time and alcohol.... Be relax everything

[@OmSingh-ui1ip]

im 16 and i have presistant floater,and also palinsopia,what i do i amm too terrified

[@NicoleP1100]

I’ve had for as long as I can remember, I’m 56. I thought it was normal and everyone saw the same as me until I discovered when I was 50 that it isn’t normal.

[@yesimhalfpotato6104]

Woah, thanks for bringing attention to this topic. When i was diagnosed with this, it was still a relatively new disorder, so to see it given attention is amazing!! Hopefully, they discover a cure soon!! Luckily, i saw a really good neurologist who had heard about this disorder, so i was diagnosed pretty quickly, but my heart goes out to all of u who suffered with this disorder!! God bless u all😊😊

[@Alexem696]

У вас прошли симптомы визуального снега ?

[@XanArt21]

Also had a major increase in visual snow in september 2015. I had it as a child cause I remember asking my mom if she saw it also but it was not as bad as it got in 2015. reading is extremely hard and can't drive a car and biking at night or early morning is a bit scary too. Thank you.

[@samuelfranklin9112]

visual snow is so difficult to live with, thank you for bringing awareness

[@nassbm]

Thank you for raising awareness on VS, recognition is the first step to finding a cure

[@dodsjanne]

Please promise to keep the research going

[@danielpsicologo]

I have tinnitus and Snow Vision since always (now 28). Im anxious because both symptoms get more intense last 2 years because stress (I guess). Thx for doing this videos and creating VSI :')

[@marcotroxler909]

Thank you so mutch🙌🏼

[@Vanessa-yb5si]

An inspiring journey! Thank you for raising awareness on Visual Snow Syndrome! Hardworking woman with lots of success and support to others ❤

[@alyxandrestyx3047]

Thank you for you too and your goodness

[@Ryanmichaels1]

Thank you for shedding light on this condition! Struggling with it right now.😢

[@thedreammweaver6274]

It's interesting to hear about this from people who developed it suddenly, I have had it ever since I can remember

[@Glanthor88]

got this since i was born. found out about it as 30. got the privilege of being born with it and not getting it via illness or trauma, so it doesn't bother me at all. i find it fascinating

[@nightlyghtgames]

Same here! I’ve had it since I was born, so I don’t know how things look like without it. I can just imagine how jarring it would be to go from clear to this. It seems we were a bit lucky with having it in that manner.

[@kileywray9604]

Me too! When I was little I used to say I could see energy 😂 but yes I feel absolutely terrible for people that are abruptly effected by this!! I can't even imagine!

[@madisonamador3720]

Congrats Sierra! Such a beautiful talk! You are doing amazing things! ❤️

[@robertnonez]

as someone with visual snow thank u sierra for ur activism..vs is not easy..but u chose to do something about it..u are an inspiration for me🇧🇷🇧🇷👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾♥️

[@Arthuurtk]

🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@kill77-c6b]

🇧🇷

[@filipebarbosa7501]

Vocês tem isso? Notei algumas mudanças na minha visão, moscas volantes e afterimages, mas não tenho a parte estática. Vocês pegaram essa condição do nada ou é de nascença?

[@gagadonim3354]

So happy that we got a platform

[@futurebeatsmusic]

Sierra, you are amazing! Thank you for giving us power

[@ellenkoo2846]

What a beautiful talk!! Thank you for educating us on Visual Snow and also inspiring us that we are in control in the face of adversity!!

[@Januaryfriend]

Great job, Sierra! Dustin and I will forever be grateful for all the work you and your family have done and keep doing. Proud audience member of the VS Conference in SF!

[@radiantlightbeing100]

I'v had visual snow for 12 years. Its been cut in half over the past two months. I'm grateful

[@radiantlightbeing100]

@@anshrai6 I worked with a very talented healer who specializes in distant healing work. He worked on my eyes, and the changes have been profound. During the day my eyes are not so light sensitive. The after images are less and I don't feel as tired or as agitated from eye strain. I'd say %50 better over a period of two months. He does a free clarity call.

[@cristiangutierrez7997]

Wow, is that reduction in symptoms still present? Why do you think they have decreased?

[@Rubiksguy]

What helped you?

[@radiantlightbeing100]

@@cristiangutierrez7997 Long distance healing from a well know energy healer in Canada, BC. he worked with me one on one for two months. It was a creative process

[@radiantlightbeing100]

@@Rubiksguy Long distance healing from a well know energy healer in Canada, BC. he worked with me one on one for two months. It was a creative process

[@heisengare4581]

The best, thank you for everything your doing Sierra!

[@pmielicka]

Thank you for taking action !

[@22anemone]

It’s interesting hearing this side I have always had VSS and never thought about it till I was older finding out not everyone sees the same as me. I found the name years ago and I love seeing more info on it and studies

[@michellecagoco5160]

Thank you so much for telling the world we exist..

[@alexandrelimeira9319]

Sou do Brasil... importante iniciativa. Tenho esse transtorno desde criança associado com ansiedade. Estou com 50 anos. Somente com o início da internet consegui ter alguma noção do que me acometia. Porém era muito difícil entender os diversos sintomas que se confundiam com várias doenças e outros transtornos. Ter um local que centralize as informações ajuda muito a quem nem tem ideia do por que de seus sintomas e sofrimentos.

[@JoviFedTheFlow]

4 years since it started in my case. As smone whos not into identifying with any illness or chronic symptom if possible i just ignored it as much as possible... lets see where it goes.. Good Luck to all you guys who are experiencing this. Life is still good. Cheers.

[@ph14-88]

Had this going on for 10 years not believed or had acknowledgement now 10 years down the line i find this

[@Biaaaaaaaaa08]

Thank you for bringing people’s attention to this

[@dodsjanne]

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. Please keep the research going!

[@DemiGodQ]

I think I've had it all my life, I've even had Lasik surgery hoping it would clear it, yet it remains. While in the army I finally met one Dr who described everything I was seeing and that day I found out what it really means to be understood.

[@ignaciob1903]

THANK YOU! congrats on turning pain into positivity. i relate to your story. vss matters

[@aaaAccount]

i have it almost 2 years it did not change but you slowly adapt. Tinnitus and hyperacusis snd nictalopia are the most difficult to overcome. Avoid Stress!

[@sherazhussain237]

I had visual snow syndrome and it wad the worst condition ever. I developed it during pregnancy with eye floaters, palinopsia, light sensitivity and basically the whole bunch. I managed to completely heal all of my visual symptoms through cutting out dairy, gluten, eggs and going on a juice and smoothie detox diet. It took me 2 years to heal but yeha i managed. So guys don’t give up and keep trying. A book i would recommend is called ‘cleanse to heal’ x

[@rabiy.a]

how many eye floaters did you have and did you actually manage did get rid of most/all of them?

[@rabiy.a]

the only symptoms that worry me at the moment are eye floaters and ghosting. i can somewhat live with the snow, tinnitus, bfep, and after images as they don't really bother me

[@OGLOC-PB]

@@rabiy.aI have excessive eye floaters , ghosting images in night,glares , halos, starbursts, but no any snow fall is this the symptom of vss

[@OGLOC-PB]

@@rabiy.a In which year you got this symptoms

[@shelly1055]

When and how you got this​@@rabiy.a

[@rrauti]

I have it when I'm really stressed. Nobody believes me what I've described. Fortunately is not that extreme as some might have. But is bothering me, especially when I'm under a neon light I feel I see the world in slow motion. Especially my hands....God bless everybody with this issue.

[@moonlightfitz]

this is so important

[@ariful32256]

My name is arifulrohman, from India 🇮🇳,I have been suffering from vss since the age of 12. I visited many doctors but no one understood my condition. They just only ignored what I was explaining them . And another thing is , I searched for this in youtube and I didn't find any other person in India suffering this . I think I am the only one in India suffering this vss. It distracts me all the time , I can't even study properly. I am preparing for medical entrance test with this syndrome and it is very uncomfortable. After years of vss started, I found that my ears were ringing all the time. I couldn't sleep well .But luckily it went away . But this visual snow syndrome distracts me from being happy and living a healthy life. Sometimes I feel like I should suicide 😢 but then I think of my parents. I promised them to provide them a better life , that's why I am preparing for medical entrance exam. I hope one day medical science find a solution for it. 😢😢🛐

[@swatipandey8432]

Now are you now

[@hamirafarhat274]

Hi :))) from India. Exact same problem here. Messed up my board exam beacause I just couldn't concentrate. Told my dad while I cried from frustration, but obviously, he just thought I was making excuses or something. He took me to the doctor, she didn't even bother listening to my explanation. Straight up looked at my dad like I didn't exist and said, "You can take her to the specialist downstairs for further checkup, but there's nothing wrong so its unnecessary." BUt he took me to her, and obviously everything turned out to be "fine". SInce then I've just sucked it up and got on with it. Believe me, there's no point obsessing over it. It took me around 10-12 months to get used to it, but now I barely notice it anymore honestly. So same advice to you too. I hope and pray it will get better for you. And btw, another NEET aspirant here too :)

[@bhavyanarang2399]

Jee aspirant here 🥲

[@Raj-m4x]

@@bhavyanarang2399don’t worry I’m also here and there are so many people suffering from this annoying problem

[@trishthedishluna]

I cried when I found out I wasn't alone

[@danielmenatianart]

❤

[@trishthedishluna]

@@danielmenatianart need any voice overs?

[@danielmenatianart]

I have VSS, lifelong. Thank you Sierra

[@samuelfajreldines674]

I discovered today that I have Visual Snow. I believe I have had this condition since childhood. However, now I'm terrified that the symptoms might worsen. Did your symptoms get worse?

[@zezyar]

Glad to see this

[@luisguilhermebento7727]

Thank you 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@nazlaamanda6901]

I'm crying over this video, everyday is so hard for me

[@lizzchoate]

Validating. Thank you!

[@mersearuane9553]

I'm an artist. I've had visual snow as far back as I can remember (age 3 or 4) only mine are clear, yep, see through. Never really bothered me until I've gotten older and developed other symptoms. It's those symptoms that's the pain!

[@UniverseCubex]

I am thankful to god that I have mild VSS.

[@samuelfajreldines674]

I discovered today that I have Visual Snow. I believe I have had this condition since childhood. However, now I'm terrified that the symptoms might worsen. Did your symptoms get worse?

[@UniverseCubex]

@@samuelfajreldines674 uh, tbh, kinda no. My symptoms are ignorable during the day but not at night.

[@dodsjanne]

Keep the research going!!!

[@paulasabando3640]

Thanks you

[@V8ctoria]

❤❤ tnx for this

[@EspinosaFilms]

Thanks for sharing this, I hope for a treatment in the near future

[@wt8376]

sierra is legend! any idea when the visual therapy protocol will be available in the UK?

[@scottpounder774]

Soon I hope, I didn’t know it was even being studied. All I’ve read was that it was rare, the medical professionals had no idea what causes it and that it’s incurable. I would be straight over to the US if they were starting medical trials! 🤞🏼

[@bera2365]

amazing! thank you.

[@valanya5469]

The struggle is real

[@Lu_La_Loop]

I’ve had all of this since I was a child. I didn’t even realize any of that wasn’t normal. Loud ear ringing, palinopsia, photophobia. And I’m sure there’s more.

[@squareoff2110]

do u have postive afterimage

[@Lu_La_Loop]

@@squareoff2110 yes

[@danielmenatianart]

Hey friend, look into orange tinted glasses, I’ve heard they help, especially if you have light sensitivity. I’ve had VSS my entire life, stay strong 💪

[@samuelfajreldines674]

I discovered today that I have Visual Snow. I believe I have had this condition since childhood. However, now I'm terrified that the symptoms might worsen. Did your symptoms get worse?

[@Lu_La_Loop]

@@samuelfajreldines674 they have gotten a bit worse since I turned 30 but so far they are very manageable.

[@ongzaga]

when she explained how she saw it for the first after the little blackout actually made me tear a little

[@kolkadach6558]

I hope you will find smth from this terrible illness 👏👏👏28 y,o.male Ukraine ( almost 2 years with vss)

[@Bonddoessports]

Amazing

[@danabelden4492]

Just now finding this out I have had all this for years mine started in 2015 thanks for this omg I was born with it and have RP

[@shad3128]

My eyes aint great from my VSS but i can tell ya sierra looking mighty fine to me 😂

[@hulyapancar5271]

Please find a cure❤❤❤ spread awareness for VSS

[@1IanPrice]

What an amazing opportunity and well done for educating people to this syndrome. Is there a resource for the protocol for reducing the symptoms for 80% of the patients by Dr Shidlofsky and Dr Tsag as Sierra mentions in the video?

[@ignaciob1903]

neurooptometric therapy for vss

[@ci2776]

❤

[@rubyrabbit5381]

I have this. I always thought it was just me.

[@kolkadach6558]

Thank you a lot , i hope so much,)you are pretty 😍

[@mohamedmusthafa4326]

My visual snow condition started 11years ago and I’m just 22

[@love_silver3816]

I’m suffering so much 24/7 because of VSS. I really hope there's a cure. Here in South Korea, there are just about three professors who know VSS and no one is interested in VSS. It is meaningless to take only Ramictal prescribed. Please help me and others who are suffering from VSS.

[@JeffJohnsonII]

Thank you!!! Can you share what reduces symptoms up to 80% ?

[@tinarodker9543]

I have this!

[@curtismcnabb8119]

I've been suffering from VSS for almost 43 years. I have so many other things going on with my vision. I am a pretty strong dude for my size and in good health. I was wondering if anyone else had problems with their hands or arms shaking when picking up something that wasn't all that heavy? I can lift quite a bit but a cup of coffee will cause a twitching sensation of sorts. I also have spinal stenosis which might have something to do with all of this 🤔

[@sceptic39]

I've had VSS for a couple of years now and I think I might have something similar to what you are describing

[@Boxingbtos7890]

I think tinnitus(ringing in the ears) is actually related to visual snow.

[@catzel1ps452]

Luckily i have a very mild tolerable amount ive had for as long as i can remember, a very faint static filter , especially noticeable in dark or closing eyes

[@ayoubrhili1249]

Is there a treatment for it? I see permanent bright spots in my eyes. I do not know if this is visual snow or not. I have been suffering from this disease for 15 years.

[@rodrigogonzalez788]

see a Dr

[@SohailAhmed-s1s]

Last few years I've been also suffering with it but matter of sorrow that in my country (Bangladesh), there is no one even doctor who has any idea of this disturbing disease. May allah help me to recover from this 😢...

[@anteupbeats]

I’m so used to it it doesn’t bother now

[@timmytravers501]

Been tripping with these symptoms for 6 months now since been spiked and poisoned with 25i-nbome.

[@sophieprice8985]

I‘ve had VSS for 12 years. I was diagnosed with MS 7 years ago and they just put it down to that. I’ve found a 20% tint glasses takes the edge off a little but some days it’s very hard. Does anyone else have problems with medication side effects making VSS worse? Because I’m unable to take a lot of medication for my MS as they make my vision worse.

[@Aicha-yj9dr]

I feel like there's something weird with my brain ...it all started 6 years ago i had severe panic attacks, then i discovered one of my eyes is weird i have a blind spot in the center of my vision (1eye), then Tinnitus started and last thing is the visual snow Syndrome, i feel like i lost my 20s i am 26 (didn't even feel the last 6 years of my life)

[@GökHanYeşiltaş-n6t]

I dont understand i have these all like since i was a little child everything was looking like a low quality youtube video with some glitch and I have constant ear ringing, photophobia ( I thought it was because of astigmatism) sometimes i even wear sunglasses at night and all of the others but the way my eyes see tingly is not that much it looks like in these photos maybe i dont have it but i can extreamly relate all of these symptoms

[@abhijitkapoor4960]

Which tinted glasses helps?

[@izzeyetv]

Yellow tinted glasses help !