visual snow syndrome

[darkoshi]

I was trying to think of a word with a meaning like "visually stifling", as in when your vision is blocked towards the bottom by an too-large cloth face mask and towards the top by a thick warm headband, making you feel trapped like in a nightmare. (I'd been trying on different masks for keeping my face warm while I went for a quick walk before sundown.)

Instead I came across this term, which I hadn't heard of before:

Visual Snow Syndrome

Visual Snow Syndrome is a neurological condition that impacts an individual’s vision, hearing, and quality of life. Patients see flashing lights, flickering dots, and static, which obstruct their visual field 24/7. There is no relief for them, even when their eyes are closed. It causes many other debilitating visual & non-visual symptoms. Once thought to be rare, Visual Snow affects an estimated 2-3% of the world’s population.

I don't have the condition. But these videos about it (as well as the comments) are interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCoNaIyRJ5w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JStDb4EiYAs