Case Study: Spotlight on hallucinations

There is increasing evidence that visual hallucinations, some of which can be quite disturbing, are a common feature of sight loss of any nature and at all ages. Bearing this in mind, it is important for eye care professionals (ECPs) to be aware of this and feel confident asking questions about it with their patients. Too many patients suffer Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) in silence, fearful that their problem is a sign of mental illness and that admission might result in them losing a degree of independence.

In this short article, I will describe a recent case of mine where I identified a patient as having CBS and who benefited from a specific strategy to minimise their hallucinations.