What is Charles Bonnet syndrome and what does hallucinations have to do with it

What is Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Charles Bonnet syndrome is a condition in which a person getting worse vision. And because of this, he begins to see hallucinations - from patterns and colored spots to detailed and clear faces, figures of people, birds, animals and vehicles.

Regardless of the content of the visions, a person with Charles Bonnet syndrome is fully aware that they are not real. And hallucinations have no other component than visual. In other words, he does not hear voices and does not feel touch, is of sound mind and does not have cognitive problems.

This phenomenon was first described by the Swedish naturalist Charles Bonnet as early as 1760. Scientist's elderly grandfather passed removal operation cataracts in both eyes, after which vision began to deteriorate and visual hallucinations appeared.

The man saw figures of people and animals, buildings and carriages. However, he did not confuse his visions with reality, was generally in good health and did not suffer from mental illness.

Later, Bonnet himself lost visual acuity and for about 40 years also began to see hallucinations. The disease got its name much later. In 1967, the Swedish scientist George de Morsier proposed to call it the Charles Bonnet syndrome.

What hallucinations are seen with Charles Bonnet syndrome

It is not uncommon for people to see patterns or lines that look like mosaics, brick walls, or tiles. The field of view can be filled with patterns and grids, branching lines or lace. Sometimes more complex images arise: people, animals and birds, distorted faces, vehicles, landscapes.

Most often, hallucinations occur in the evening hours in low light, when the person is alone and in a familiar environment.

They may appear for a few seconds or last for hours.

One woman saw in your apartment strangers. When she noticed another hallucination, she went to check the door to make sure that this was really a vision and that no one had entered the apartment. And then she greeted the “guest” and returned to work. Another woman was watching little girls in beautifully embroidered aprons, and another was everywhere. wondered white doves.

Despite the fact that everyone sees different pictures, visions are rarely frightening or disturbing. Only 30% of people with Charles Bonnet syndrome experiencing acute stress from hallucinations, and 51% - moderate. At the same time, their anxiety is more related to anxiety for their health, and not with what they observe.

Of course, at the first appearance of a hallucination overthrow shocked, frightened and horrified. But over time, strong emotions smooth out, and only a small percentage of patients continue to worry. Moreover, about 60% believe that visions don't really interfere with their lives.

However, some people are really unlucky. For example, one woman saw bugs in her food, which prevented her from eating normally and made her lose a lot of weight.

And the other content of hallucinations is strong changed after acute stress. An elderly woman lived normally with Charles Bonnet syndrome for four years, but after extreme heat and evacuation from the house, her visions became more frightening and bizarre.

Why does Charles Bonnet syndrome occur?

Scientists still don't know exactly why this happens, but supposethat sensory deprivation is to blame.

Our brain constantly receives information from the eyes from the environment. This data is processed by the visual cortex, a part of the cerebral cortex in the occipital region.

When a person sees well, the abundance of information suppresses excitement in this area, and no hallucinations occur.

If vision deteriorates, visual information ceases to suppress the activity of the visual cortex, which is overly excited and creates non-existent images.

Similar effects can occur with other senses as well. For example, people who have recently been deafened may experience auditory hallucinations, and amputee patients may feel touched by a non-existent limb.

Who is at risk of experiencing Charles Bonnet syndrome

The prevalence of this disorder varies from 0.4 to 30%. Such a huge scatter is explained by the fact that Charles Bonnet syndrome is not so easy to diagnose. There is still no clear definition of this condition, and with visual hallucinations it can come as ophthalmologistas well as a psychiatrist or neurologist.

And it's good if the doctor knows about the syndrome. In one study figured outthat only 36% of those who turned to the doctor received a clear explanation, and 47% did not really understand what was happening to them. Many healthcare workers in general did not hear about such a syndrome and do not know how to help patients.

Moreover, people with Charles Bonnet syndrome in general reluctantly go to the doctor because they are afraid to look crazy.

It is also worth considering that this disorder is more common in older people, and they have cognitive decline and brain problems are much more expected than others. At the same time, Charles Bonnet syndrome can occur at any age - in youth or even in childhood. And in the elderly, in many cases it is diagnosed only because they are more likely to develop diseases of the macula, retina and optic nerve, as well as other eye pathologies.

The risk factors also refer social isolation, stress and fatigue, lack of lighting. Although in some people hallucinations, on the contrary, appear in bright light, and disappear at dusk.

Can Charles Bonnet syndrome be cured?

Until now, there is no effective and suitable treatment for everyone. Since hallucinations in Charles Bonnet syndrome occur because a person sees worse, first of all costs choose the appropriate optical aids - glasses and contact lenses, wear sunglasses in bright light and adjust the appropriate lighting in the house. Vision correction surgery may also help.

If it fails to improve, the doctor may prescribe a set of drugs that will deal specifically with hallucinations: antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, anxiety medications, and selective reversal inhibitors serotonin uptake. Although at the moment there are no good studies proving the benefits of these drugs for the treatment of the syndrome.

Also, people with this disease give some tips on how to make the hallucination disappear:

• blink.
• Move your eyes from left to right without moving your head.
• Change lighting. If hallucinations arose in bright light - go into the shade, if in semi-darkness - turn on the light.
• Focus on something else.
• Go towards the hallucination and even address it.
• Communicate with people more often.
• Sleep well and reduce stress levels.