Research highlights sight loss hallucinations

New research carried out by King’s College London has found that the vivid hallucinations experienced by people with sight loss can last far longer and have more serious consequences than previously thought.

The Macular Society said the phenomenon, known as Charles Bonnet Syndrome, had been widely considered by the medical profession to be benign and short-lived. However, the research showed that 80 per cent of 492 visually impaired respondents had hallucinations for five years or more and 32 per cent found them predominantly unpleasant, distressing and negative. The study described the respondents as having ‘negative outcome Charles Bonnet Syndrome.’

The organisation’s chief executive Tony Rucinski said it was essential that people affected by sight loss were given information about Charles Bonnet Syndrome at diagnosis or as soon after as possible and that more research into reducing its impact was needed.