What is visual-snow syndrome? Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger may have discussed the rare disorder on an old chat forum.

• The Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger may have told an online forum he had visual-snow syndrome.
• It's a rare disorder first described in 1995 that's estimated to affect up to 2% of the population.

On an online forum when he was a teenager, Bryan Kohberger, the University of Idaho murder suspect, may have said he experienced a strange visual anomaly.

In a series of posts on a forum called Tapatalk in 2011, the user Exarr.thosewithvisualsnow wrote about having a condition called visual snow. The photo associated with the username resembles Kohberger. Newsweek reported that Lauren Matthias, the host of a true-crime podcast, said on NewsNation that she and her team had linked the account to an email account of Kohberger's. The New York Times also connected the Tapatalk account to Kohberger.

Kohberger's attorney didn't respond to a request for comment inquiring whether the Tapatalk account was Kohberger's and whether Kohberger had visual snow.

In a July 2011 post, Exarr.thosewithvisualsnow wrote: "It is as if the ringing in my ears and the fuzz in my vision is simply all of the demons in my head mocking me."

Kohberger, now 28, is charged with four counts of murder and a count of burglary in the killings of four University of Idaho students on November 13. A grand jury indicted him and he's scheduled to be arraigned and officially enter his plea on Monday, May 22.

What is visual-snow syndrome?

Visual-snow syndrome is a little-known neurological disorder that scientists first recognized in 1995.

Most people experiencing it continuously see tiny, snowlike flecks in their vision, as if the world in front of them is a badly tuned old TV set. The dots are usually black and white, though they can sometimes be transparent.

That staticlike vision — which remains even with closed eyes — can be debilitating to some, affecting their capacity to work and complete school.

How is visual-snow syndrome diagnosed and treated?

Visual-snow syndrome is usually diagnosed based on the symptoms people report after other conditions that might have cause it have been ruled out.

Aside from the visual static, according to the National Institutes of Health, people experiencing visual-snow syndrome may also deal with sensitivity to light, migraines, and ringing or buzzing in the ears — as the Tapatalk user reported.

Studies suggest depression, anxiety, and poor sleep are common side effects of visual-snow syndrome.

The condition affects up to 2% of the world population, according to the Mayo Clinic's estimates. Because it's so rare, researchers are only beginning to understand it.

Experts aren't sure about the cause of the disorder, but a 2022 review suggested visual-processing centers in the brain played a role. Other studies suggested people with a brain injury were more likely to develop visual-snow syndrome.

A 2020 survey of 1,100 people found that the average age of people experiencing visual-snow syndrome was 29, and nearly 40% of those surveyed said they'd had symptoms "for as long as they could remember."

The condition doesn't seem to get worse over time. Still, there is no cure for visual-snow syndrome.

One study indicated a medication used to treat seizures and bipolar disorder worked for some patients with visual snow. Wearing orange-tinted glasses may also provide some relief.