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Charles Bonnet syndrome and phantom images

Learn about the causes and symptoms of Charles Bonnet syndrome.

An image of a street with an example of Charles Bonnet syndrome on the right which shows the street with hallucinations of large animals

Summary

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a condition which causes up to 10 percent of people with vision loss to see things which aren’t really there. These are called phantom images.

CBS is a condition which affects some people when they have lost some or all of their vision. It causes phantom images which means they see things which aren’t really there.

In healthy eyes light rays bouncing off objects around you will enter the eyes, sending electrical signals to the brain, where it is processed allowing us to see. When your eyes are affected by certain diseases your brain does not receive as much visual information. To make-up for the loss of visual information your brain may make up images or releases old images which you have stored. You see these images as if they are real.

Sometimes, people worry that phantom images are a sign of a mental health problem, but they are not. It is important to remember that for some people phantom images are their brain’s normal response to vision loss.

Always speak to your GP and eye care professional about the best treatment options for you.

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