Charles Bonnet syndrome

The main symptom of Charles Bonnet syndrome is seeing things that are not real (hallucinations) after losing a lot of your sight.

It's often linked to eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration or cataracts.

The hallucinations can:

• be patterns such as shapes or lines
• be of people, animals, objects or places
• be moving or still
• be in black and white or colour
• happen suddenly
• last for a few minutes or several hours

The hallucinations are only things you see. You do not hear, smell or feel things that are not there.

Most people with Charles Bonnet syndrome know the hallucinations are not real.

There's currently no cure for Charles Bonnet syndrome, but over time the hallucinations usually happen less often.

If the hallucinations suddenly return or get worse, this could be caused by an infection or a medicine you're taking. Speak to a GP so they can check.

Treating the infection or changing your medicine might help.

If you're finding the hallucinations upsetting, a GP can refer you for talking therapy that can help with hallucinations.

There's some things you can try that may help when you're hallucinating.

• turn on the lights or move somewhere lighter if it's dark when you have a hallucination

• turn off the lights or move somewhere darker if it's light when you have a hallucination

• move your eyes from left to right without moving your head – do this 15 to 30 times, then pause and repeat a few times

• stand up and move around

• watch TV or listen to the radio

• reach out to touch the hallucination

• use a cane or walking stick when you move around – this can help you check what is real around you when you are hallucinating

There are some other things that can help if you have Charles Bonnet syndrome, such as:

• making sure you're well rested and getting enough sleep at night – the hallucinations may be worse when you're tired or stressed
• using bright light bulbs in your home and using a magnifying device to make things bigger when you need to – making use of the sight you have may help the hallucinations happen less often
• getting regular eye tests – an optician can check for further changes in your eyes and give you advice about how to make the best use of the sight you have

A GP, optician or ophthalmologist (eye doctor) can refer you to a specialist low-vision service for advice about things to help with your sight.

Charles Bonnet syndrome is linked to vision loss.

When you lose your sight, your brain gets less information from your eyes than it's used to. Your brain sometimes makes up for this by creating hallucinations.

Not everyone who loses their sight will get Charles Bonnet syndrome. You're more likely to get it if:

• your sight suddenly gets worse
• you lose sight in both eyes

It's common in people who have eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration or cataracts.

Charles Bonnet syndrome is not caused by a mental health problem or dementia.

There are some charities and organisations that provide information and support for people with Charles Bonnet syndrome:

• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): Charles Bonnet syndrome
• Macular Society: Charles Bonnet syndrome
• Esme's Umbrella: Charles Bonnet syndrome support and information

Charles Bonnet syndrome causes you to see things that are not real (hallucinations). But you do not hear, smell or feel things that are not there.

There's no cure for Charles Bonnet syndrome, but the hallucinations usually improve over time. Treating infections or changing medicines may help.

You can help Charles Bonnet syndrome hallucinations by changing the lighting, doing eye exercises or trying to touch the hallucinations.

Charles Bonnet syndrome is caused by a reaction the brain has to vision loss. You're more likely to get it if your sight suddenly gets worse.