This is a research study on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for visual symptoms (MBCT-vision), to treat patients with debilitating symptoms of visual snow (VS) and its associated visual symptoms, severe light sensitivity (i.e. photophobia) and migrainous visual aura.~VS is a condition of persistent flickering dots, like that of an out-of-focus analog television screen, affecting the whole visual field. There can be associated visual symptoms such as after-images, and trailing of images. No clinical trials for treatment have been done for VS. Instead, treatment data comes from patient case reports.~Photophobia describes discomfort or pain to light stimulation. Causes include eye surface issues, migraine, or of an unknown trigger, and can be persistent despite optimum management of underlying causes.~Patients with migrainous visual aura may have troublesome visual disturbances despite optimum migraine treatment.~Previous studies have shown that dysfunction in brain pathways contribute to the above conditions.~Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is a treatment that combines evidence-based approaches of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). MBCT is an established 8-week programme designed to develop skills of mindfulness and CBT strategies in individuals, through weekly small-group sessions and structured daily practice between sessions.~Studies on MBCT and mindfulness-based interventions have shown improvements in psychological resilience; physical health including immune function; and neural changes associated with psychological wellbeing.~The investigators propose that MBCT, modified to incorporate aspects relevant to persistent and distressing visual symptoms (MBCT-vision), can improve these debilitating symptoms by modifying dysfunctional neural pathways and equip patients with skills that promote psychological resilience and improve coping with residual symptoms.~For this study, the investigators will assess the use of MBCT-vision in patients with visual snow or associated visual symptoms, migrainous visual aura or photophobia. This will be the first study of a mindfulness-based intervention in this population.
This is a research study on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for visual symptoms (MBCT-vision), to treat patients with debilitating symptoms of visual snow (VS) and is associated visual symptoms, severe light sensitivity (i.e. photophobia) and migrainous visual aura.~Participants will receive an intervention of an 8-week MBCT course modified for visual symptoms, which will involve 8 weeks of once weekly group sessions and home practice between sessions.