Hallucinations can be in "simple" forms, such as lines, shapes, or bursts of light; they can be in a more "complex" structure, which includes images of animals, such as seeing butterflies.
Charles Bonnet syndrome describes hallucinations in patients who have severely lost their eyesight as a result of cases caused by damage to the optic nerves, eyes and brain. The exact cause of the syndrome is not yet known, but one of the most accepted theories suggests that it is caused by the interruption of visual sensory signals reaching the brain (as in someone who has lost sight), that is, the brain's inability to curb excessive and unwanted brain activity.
This causes the part of the brain responsible for the sense of vision (the visual cortex) to fire signals inappropriately. A person also perceives that they are seeing something, although there is no real stimulus - visual hallucination. If similar symptoms occur in a friend or relative who has lost sight in one or both eyes, it is important to understand that this is not a sign of "going crazy".
Charles Bonnet Hallucinations
Hallucinations can be in "simple" forms, such as lines, shapes, or bursts of light; they can be in a more "complex" structure, which includes images of animals, such as seeing butterflies. However, simple hallucinations are much more common. Seconds, minutes or hours in a way, repeated several times a day or at different lengths and frequencies that can be seen to the hallucinations of Charles Bonnet syndrome and to last for many years, it is normal for some people continue to experience these symptoms for the rest of their lives.
Charles Bonnet hallucinations have a highly variable nature. So affected people don't see the same thing as repetitive, and someone with Charles Bonnet syndrome sees different things than someone with the same syndrome.
Hallucinations rarely have little or no emotional meaning. This makes it possible for people to understand that what they are seeing is not real. So these hallucinations are usually separated from hallucinations in a mental disorder.
The hallucinations seen in Charles Bonnet syndrome have some other distinctive, distinctive features. These hallucinations only occur where the ability to see disappears. For example, someone who does not see the left eye sees hallucinations only in this eye. On the other hand, hallucinations are more often seen at moments when the eyes are open rather than closed, and can disappear when the person closes their eyes or looks elsewhere. However, Charles Bonnet hallucinations are more common in environments where sensory stimuli are scarce --night or dim light or still.
Who's More Common?
A study of Australian Society found that the age group experiencing Charles Bonnet syndrome is mostly people over the age of 70. One possible reason for this may be that vision loss is much more common in this age group. But according to research, an ordinary person in any age group who has lost their sight can also develop Charles Bonnet syndrome.
The causes of blindness that cause Charles Bonnet syndrome are usually macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetes, paralysis, and injury, but any disease that causes blindness can also cause Charles Bonnet syndrome. On the other hand, the syndrome is not seen in people who do not have congenital eyesight.
There are no studies that offer precise data on how much of the society has seen this syndrome. One of the reasons for this is that people with the syndrome do not report their condition. Because when people report hallucinations they have, they have a fear of eating labels such as psychiatric disorder or "insanity." Moreover, people who are informed about their symptoms may also receive misdiagnoses, such as psychosis or dementia.
Treatment Options Are Limited
Going to a physician (usually with a neurologist and/or geriatrist) is an important first step to exclude other causes of hallucinations. These can include dementia, physical neurological conditions (e.g. a brain tumor), epilepsy, and delirium due to infections or medications. Your doctor may ask for blood tests and/or brain imaging to rule them out.
Treatment for Charles Bonnet syndrome is fairly limited, but many patients report that all they need is reassurance, especially for infrequent hallucinations or hallucinations that do not adversely affect their quality of life.
Strategies to minimize the frequency and duration of hallucinations include frequent blinking or rapid eye movement, moving to a brighter place, or turning on the light, and increasing social interaction, which helps prevent inactivity.
For patients with symptoms that greatly reduce their quality of life, doctors may try medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antiepileptic drugs, but their effectiveness is variable and side effects may outweigh. Hallucinations can disappear if the cause of vision loss can be corrected (for example, if severe cataracts have caused blindness and the patient has undergone a cataract operation).
But unfortunately, the causes of vision loss that lead to Charles Bonnet syndrome are often incurable.