Participants sought: Migraine and visual disturbance, known as 'visual snow'

Visual snow can granulate visual perception as per the
right-hand image pictured here. Image: Medpage today

The problem

Currently, there is little understanding of the causes of Visual Snow (VS) and the relationship between VS and migraine.  As such, more research needs to be conducted to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these conditions.

A large portion of the brain is involved in vision and controlling the movement of the eyes. Other research has shown that simple eye movement tests and visual perception tasks can give important information about the mechanisms underlying neurological conditions.

What we want to find out

We wish to investigate whether differences in performance on eye movement and visual perception tests can account for the symptoms of VS and the differences in symptomology between VS and migraine.


Ultimately it is hoped that this research will lead to a better understanding of VS and migraine and non-invasive methods of distinguishing and diagnosing these conditions.

Who can participate and what's involved?

We are looking for people who experience visual snow, with or without migraine, or who have migraine, with or without aura.

Participating in this project will involve an assessment of eye movements, an assessment of visual perception, tests of attention, an ophthalmic assessment and an online assessment of mood, drug and alcohol use and quality of life.

You will be asked to attend two testing session which will go for approximately 2 hours each, 4 hours in total. Eye movement and visual perception task will take place at Monash University, Department of Neuroscience, Alfred Centre, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. You will also be required to complete a series of online neurological assessments, which should take 30-45 minutes to complete.

More details and contact

• A/Prof Joanne Fielding email joanne.fielding@monash.edu, ph (03) 9903 0887     
• ccs-clin-trials.med.monash.edu.au/trials/elucidating-pathophysiological-signature-visual-snow