Charles Bonet Syndrome, Visual Hallucinations and Vision Degeneration
Charles Bonet syndrome describes a condition of visual hallucinations which occur for some people in the early stages of vision degeneration.
Charles Bonet - or Charles Bonnet, as the name is more commonly spelled - first diagnosed the condition by observing his grandfather.
It was the year 1760 when Charles Bonnet, a Swiss naturalist, became concerned when his grandfather reported seeing "amusing and magical visions." These visions which included carriages, birds, buildings and people were not visible to anyone else.
For many years the condition variously known as Charles Bonnet syndrome or CBS was believed to be a rare condition even though numerous cases were reported.
The condition is linked with the early stages of vision degeneration when the person can still see but has diminishing sight.
The visions can last for seconds or most of the day. Usually they are very clear, which often surprises the hallucinator as they have become used to things appearing blurry or obscured by black spots or wavy vision.
Images of people are often experienced during a Charles Bonet syndrome episode but rarely are the people familiar to the perceiver. Other common visual hallucinations include objects morphing into something else, like a staircase changing into a mountain slope. Some of these illusions can make it difficult for the person to move around safely.
Usually as the person’s vision degeneration progresses the CBS or Bonnett syndrome ceases to bother them.
So can Charles Bonet syndrome be treated?
Well, no is the short answer; however you can do something about it. Various methods have been shown to dispel the hallucinations in some people. Tricks like turning off the light or shutting the eyes for a few seconds can help.
As for why Charles Bonet syndrome occurs, it is still an unknown. One theory is that the brain makes up for the loss of actual visual stimuli by creating ‘virtual’ images. Another theory suggests that CBS is created by the same mechanism as dreaming.
Also formal studies have identified that creative and highly educated people are more likely to experience the hallucinations, as are people who live alone and do not have much social interaction.
One of the most interesting aspects of Charles Bonet syndrome is that it has been long believed that the condition is a rare one. This is now being challenged as more studies are done and the incidence of diseases such as macular degeneration has sharply risen.
Researchers are now aware that rather than CBS being rare it is more a case of it being unreported. Quite justifiably people have been reluctant to admit to visual hallucinations for fear of being diagnosed as insane! This is not so much the case now that there’s more general knowledge and recognition of common causes of such symptoms, without any stigma attached.
However, you may prefer to be free of Charles Bonet syndrome, visual hallucinations or indeed vision deterioration. We encourage you to inform yourself by reading the useful information on this site, take healthy precautions and start a good macular supplement as soon as possible to protect yourself from vision deterioration.
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