Charles Bonnet syndrome is a condition that causes hallucinations and usually occurs after someone experiences significant sight loss. It can be a complication from eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or other eye conditions that cause low vision. The NHS Charles Bonnet webpage includes more information on symptoms and causes.
Although it can be unsettling to see things that aren’t there, visual hallucinations are a typical brain response to sight loss. It’s thought that the brain is trying to compensate for the loss of information from the eye by producing vivid images.
The hallucinations can last between a couple of minutes and several hours, but they tend to happen less frequently as time passes.
In the following video, Nathan shares his experience of living with Charles Bonnet syndrome.
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Seeing vivid images can make some aspects of daily life more difficult, like moving about and navigating objects around you. Therefore, you might find the hallucinations more manageable in places you're familiar with, like at home. Also, low vision-aids, such as a cane, can be especially helpful when hallucinating to help identify what is or isn’t a hallucination.
More complex hallucinations involving people or landscapes, for example, can be disconcerting and intrude more on day-to-day life. Differing tactics can work better for different people, so try some of those we’ve listed in the ‘Methods for managing Charles Bonnet syndrome’ section on this page.
If you’re living with sight loss and Charles Bonnet syndrome, there are lots of ways we can support you.
At Guide Dogs, we have a wide range of services, both with and without guide dogs, and a team of experts who can work with you to understand your needs and agree on a plan that’s right for you.
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Generally, hallucinations caused by Charles Bonnet syndrome worsen when you don’t get enough sleep or you’re stressed, so being on top of your overall wellbeing is important. Other methods to cope with and minimise the impact of hallucinations include:
As it’s common to develop Charles Bonnet syndrome in conjunction with another eye condition, it’s likely you’ll need adjustments at work. Employers have a legal responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs. Speak with your manager about how the condition affects you and the type of support that will be the most effective.
However, as Charles Bonnet syndrome tends to be more common among older people with age-related eye conditions, statistically many people who develop the condition won’t be of working age.
Talking about the condition with someone you trust can help relieve some of the worries you might feel, especially early on. It might be hard talking to family and friends about it, but confiding in them could make it easier for them to help you.
If your hallucinations make you feel upset or distressed, you might benefit from counselling with a mental health professional. Speak to your GP about how to get this kind of support.
One of the best sources of support can be speaking to other people living with the condition. You might find it reassuring to hear what it's been like for others who've had similar experiences. They can often suggest tips and resources you might not hear about elsewhere.
Living with Charles Bonnet was so hard at first, but what really helped was chatting to Diana at Guide Dogs. She’s helped so many people open up about Charles Bonnet Syndrome. She took the time to listen and reassure me.
You can contact us to find out about services and support tailored to your individual needs.
Guide Dogs is committed to working alongside people with a range of vision impairments, who are registered as either sight-impaired or severely sight-impaired.
Our staff undergo comprehensive training in supporting individuals with vision impairment, to enable us to support you every step of the way through one of our many services, with and without dogs. We foster knowledge of living with vision impairment and create content in collaboration with our Vision Rehabilitation Specialists and Habilitation Specialists.
This content is periodically reviewed as we continue to embrace new knowledge and up-to-date information, in order to improve how we deliver our services and advice.
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People with Charles Bonnet syndrome can experience different types of hallucinations. From seeing simple colours, shapes or patterns to complex hallucinations of people, landscapes and scenery, animals, and even fantasy scenes. The images can be moving or still, in black and white or colour.
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