Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Also known as Visual Release Hallucinations, Vision Loss Hallucinations, Low Vision Hallucinations, Charles Bonnet Visual Hallucinations
Bottom Line
Charles Bonnet syndrome causes visual hallucinations in people with vision loss. The images are not real, but the experience can feel vivid and frightening.
Charles Bonnet syndrome causes visual hallucinations in people with poor vision. People usually know the images are not real, and they do not hear voices with them 1.
It can happen with macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract, stroke affecting vision, or other causes of low vision. A recent meta-analysis found it is common enough that doctors should ask about it directly 2.
Treatment starts with education, reassurance, better lighting, low-vision support, and treating any fixable eye disease. Medicine is reserved for severe distress or unsafe behavior 3.
How Doctors Diagnose It
The diagnosis starts with the story. The doctor asks what you see, how often it happens, and whether you know it is not real.
An eye exam looks for treatable vision loss. A medical review checks medicines, memory, sleep, infection, neurologic symptoms, and mental health concerns 4.
What Helps
Many people feel better once they learn the visions are a known response to vision loss. Reassurance can reduce fear.
Practical steps include brighter lighting, reducing glare, improving glasses, treating cataracts, using low-vision aids, and changing focus when an image appears.
Medicine is considered only when hallucinations are very distressing, dangerous, or linked with another medical problem 3.
It Is Not The Same As Psychosis
Charles Bonnet syndrome is tied to vision loss, not loss of touch with reality. People often keep clear insight.
Hearing voices, strong false beliefs, confusion, or major personality change points to another cause. Those symptoms need medical evaluation.
Common Questions About Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Next Steps
- 1Tell your eye doctor if you see images that are not there.
- 2Seek urgent medical care for confusion, voices, commands, false beliefs, stroke signs, or sudden vision loss.
- 3Ask whether cataracts, glasses, retinal disease, or glaucoma can be treated better.
- 4Improve room lighting and reduce glare when hallucinations are worse.
- 5Ask for low-vision services if vision loss affects reading, walking, or daily tasks.
Find specialists for Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Board-certified ophthalmologists who treat Charles Bonnet Syndrome.
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