What is Charles Benet syndrome?

Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS), also known visual release hallucinations, is a visual disturbance in which a person with significant vision loss experiences vivid and detailed visual hallucinations. Visual hallucinations are experiences involving the apparent perception of something not present.

Causes:

* CBS occurs in people with significant eyesight loss, including macular degeneration, glaucoma, optic nerve atrophy, and diabetic retinopathy.

* It is more common in individuals who have had their sight loss for a longer time and in those with advanced stages of vision loss.

* Damage to the visual cortex, which is the area of the brain that processes visual information, leads to the development of CBS.

* CBS is the brain’s way of compensating for the lack of visual input it is receiving and, in some cases, may represent an over-activity of the visual pathways in the brain.

* CBS is more likely to occur in individuals who:

- Are elderly

- Have had long-standing vision loss

- Spend extended periods in low-light environments

- Are experiencing anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbance

Symptoms:

* Hallucinations are typically formed from the misinterpretation of sensory information coming in from the eyes, touch, hearing, and smell.

* Hallucinations can be simple, such as geometric patterns or flashes of light, or complex and involve detailed images of objects, people, animals, or scenes.

* Hallucinations can be intermittent or continuous and may occur at any time of day or night, although they are most common in low-light conditions.

* Hallucinations are typically not distressing and do not interfere with activities.

* The hallucinations are usually recognized as unreal and can be distinguished from real objects.

Other characteristics:

* The person may see multiple types of hallucinations at a time.

* Hallucinations may include human faces or other body parts as well as images of places the person has been.

* Some patients confuse the hallucinations with reality, which may lead to danger or psychological problems.

* In rare cases, some people with CBS may also experience auditory or tactile hallucinations.

* CBS usually doesn’t require any treatment, but sometimes anxiety medication may be necessary.

Treatment:

* No specific treatment is usually needed.

* Treatment is aimed at managing the underlying vision loss and any associated anxiety or depression. Reassurance and explanation about the condition may be the only requirements.

* In some cases, medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications may be helpful in reducing the frequency or severity of the hallucinations.

* In some cases, vision rehabilitation may be helpful to improve visual function and reduce the frequency of hallucinations.