Charles Bonnet Syndrome

[zoey_s]

Does anyone else have Charles Bonnet? It is weird to see those patterns that I know aren't really there.

[RosMacularSociety Partner]

Dear zoey_s,

In terms of Charles Bonnet visual hallucinations (CBS), approximately 50% of individuals with a certain degree of sight loss experience these. What differentiates CBS from other types of hallucination is that they only affect the sense of sight. No other senses should be involved. Therefore the individual should not be able to hear, smell, touch or interact with the hallucinations. They should also have insight into the fact that the hallucinations are not real once this has been explained to them, and they should not see e.g. familiar people or e.g. animals, as opposed to anonymous ones. In addition, there should not be any consequences to anything they see happening.

If any of these listed factors are present, then this may indicate an additional cause, which needs to be investigated so that the individual obtains all the relevant support needed..

When visual hallucinations are purely due to Charles Bonnet Syndrome, then this is not a mental health or psychological issue; it is a physiological issue linked to sight loss.

I have copied some links that may be of assistance:

macularsociety.org/visual-h...

macularsociety.org/about/me...

macularsociety.org/about/me...

The following is a link to our related webinar:

macularsociety.org/support/...

The following article may also be of interest:

news-medical.net/news/20151...

Kind regards,

Macular Society helpline

macularsociety.org

[zoey_s in reply to RosMacularSociety]

Thank you for the information. I am mostly just seeing colored patterns when reading my Kindle. It isn't much of a problem.

[tallyho]

yes I do only at night whilst in bed with eyes closed. I get swirling patterns, Gruffalo figures, algebra and other things. The charity Esmes Umbrella is great at supporting those with CBS

[SkeetChif in reply to tallyho]

Yes! I thought I was going crazy, but when I close my eyes I see greenish swirling patterns and then it looks like a camera eye lens is opening and I can see visions of things that I know! Streets and buildings that I have been in, people that I have not seen in decades. What is this??? It is very disturbing, but only happens right before I go to sleep. I am NOT dreaming because I open my eyes, look at the clock or get up. It does not happen during the day. I try to get more detail every time it happens but it is difficult to focus because the vision is pretty small. I hope someone has an answer for this.

[tallyho in reply to SkeetChif]

It’s called Charles Bonnett Syndrome look look up Esme’s Umbrella it’s a charity that supports people with CBS.

[SkeetChif in reply to tallyho]

Thanks!