Butterflies and black lacy patterns: the prevalence and characteristics of Charles Bonnet hallucinations in an Australian population

Abstract

The prevalence of CBS in the older-aged, low-vision population is 17.5%. Several demographic and syndrome-specific characteristics were found to be consistent enabling a profile of a CBS sufferer in this group of participants to be compiled.

The prevalence and clinical characteristics of Charles Bonnet Syndrome in Danish patients with neovascular age‐related macular degeneration

“…This prevalence rate is lower compared to some previously reported rates (Khan et al 2008), but close to the prevalence of 13% described in 100 consecutive patients with AMD (Holroyd et al 1992) and 11% described in 300 low-vision patients (Teunisse et al 1995). An Australian study of 200 patients with variable retinal disease and a visual acuity of 0.5 or less found a prevalence rate of 17.5% (Vukicevic & Fitzmaurice 2008), while another report of 66 patients with AMD and a visual acuity of logMAR 0.6 or less found that 15% of the patients reported symptoms of CBS (Abbott et al 2007). If we exclude all patients with a visual acuity of more than 0.5 on the best seeing eye from our material, we get a prevalence rate of 12%, which increases to 15% if we only include patients with a visual acuity of 0.3 or less on the best seeing eye.…”

“…Furthermore, differences in cultural or ethnic groups and type of disease may also play a role in the variation. In fact, only about 1 ⁄ 5 of the patients admit to have told others about their symptoms (Vukicevic & Fitzmaurice 2008).…”

Visual Hallucinations and Ischemic Stroke: Review of 5 Cases

“…Nevertheless, Santhouse et al reported that the hallucinations were an emotional burden in 50% of 34 patients, and half of them were egodystonic [22]. Similarly, Vukicevic and Fitzmaurice reported that the syndrome caused moderate or severe stress in 16 of 35 patients [23].…”

Charles Bonnet Syndrome: A Case Study

“…Neurologic and psychiatric problems should first be excluded before diagnosing the problem as CBS [7]. No official mode of treatment has been described [6]. However, a recent study showed the effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [13].…”

“…It causes these people to see things that aren't really there, known as visual hallucinations. These people are psychologically normal and have no preexisting psychiatric illness that manifests hallucinations [3][4][5][6]. About 12% to 13% of patients with impaired sight have visual hallucinations [7].…”