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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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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