Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS), named for the Swiss philosopher and naturalist who characterized the syndrome, causes repeated visual hallucinations in elderly persons. Sufferers normally have later-life vision loss, but others outside of this category may suffer from the syndrome as well. The types of images one may see are varied. You may see vivacious, ethereal images or ordinary images of people, houses and other objects that recur in daily life.
Hallucinations of Charles Bonnet Syndrome should not be confused with delusions. According to Lighthouse Guild, CBS-afflicted persons normally know what they are seeing is not reality. In contrast, people with delusions earnestly believe their visions are what is actually there. Another indicator of CBS is hallucinations that are exclusively visual.
CBS is thought to cause hallucinations due to the natural accommodation of the body to compensate for vision loss. When eye diseases impact the eyes or damage occurs to the optic pathway, retinal cells cease to receive sensory input to send to the brain and generate an image.
Always seek medical attention if you begin to suffer from gastroparesis, excessive vomitting or nausea. Other causes to consult with your physician include excessive acid reflux, vomitting undigested food and weight loss.
Diabetics especially should pay attention to changes in blood sugar levels. Abdominal bloating is not normally a cause for concern, but extended periods may necessitate medical attention.
1. Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration impacts more people than both cataracts and glaucoma. 10 million Americans suffer vision loss as a result of the incurable disease. The condition occurs when the center of the retina, the macula, begins to deteriorate. Your retina is responsible for transmitting visual images to the brain. The macular deterioration understandably causes vision loss because the macula typically functions to:
- Helps you read
- Drive Automobiles
- Facial/Color Recognition
- See the Fine Details
Initial stages of macular degeneration do not impact sight. As the condition progresses, you will begin to have blurred, wavy vision. Degeneration of the macula eventually leads to legal blindness. Sufferers can still see with the help of their peripheral vision but not their central vision. Individuals 55 and older are most likely to suffer from macular degeneration.
LIfestyle habits such as smoking can increase your risk for macular degeneration. Genetic factors similarly contribute to your risk. You have a higher chance of developing the condition as a Caucasian or if have a family history of the condition.
Since the condition is currently incurable, you should get eye exams regularly. Protect your eyes from UV light and refrain from smoking to lessen your possibilities of developing macular degeneration.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]2. Cataracts
Cataracts is the loss of transparency in the normally clear eye lens. The clouding causes people to see as though they are always viewing images through fog. The cloudiness impacts people’s ability to read, drive at night and see facial expressions.
The clouding of the lens develops gradually over time without any initial effects. However, cataracts eventually cause differences in vision. Along with cloudy vision, the following can indicate cataracts:
- Light Sensitivity
- Frequent Alterations to Eyeglass Prescriptions
- Colors Appear Faded or Yellow
- Seeing Double Vision in One Eye
3. Severe Myopathy
CBS can be specified as the diagnosis if there is no other neurological phenomenon to explain the visual illusions. Sufferers sometimes find they experience muscle weakness. Severe myopathies cause the muscle fibers to function improperly, which in turn means muscle weakness. There are several different classes of myopathies.
Congenital myopathies affect your ability to control the voluntary muscles. Severe congenital myopathy may make it difficult to breathe or swallow. The myopathy does not tend to worsen over time. Distal myopathies affect the distal regions of the extremities including the feet, arms, legs and hands. This condition causes the eventual wasting of muscles. Obviously, some myopathies are more severe than others, so you should seek medical help if ever unable to breathe or swallow.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]4. Glaucoma
Glaucoma diseases harm the optic nerve in the eye and may potentially cause blindness. The most prevalent form, primary open-angle glaucoma, occurs when the eye drains fluid inefficiently. This causes pressure to build in the frontal area of the eye and damages the optic nerve. Sufferers do not experience pain or vision changes in the early stages.
Closed-angle glaucoma occurs when the iris is too close to the eye’s drainage angle. The iris can either partially or totally block the drainage angle. Total blockage produces an acute attack, which requires immediate emergency medical attention. Always get early eye exams to detect glaucoma as early as possible and initiate the necessary treatment.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]5. Optic Neuritis
Optic neuritis, an inflamed optic nerve, causes the vision to become dim or blurry. The majority of people recover from optic neuritis without receiving any treatment. As the immune system attacks the myelin sheath surrounding the optic nerve, the nerve loses its ability to conduct signals to the brain.
This change in vital functioning is what causes vision alterations. Optic neuritis develops quickly over a period of hours or days. Adults normally only develop neuritis in one eye. Symptoms tend to fade after a few weeks. Some cases require an entire year to return to normal.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]6. Retinal Vein Occlusion
Retinal vein occlusion happens when blood flow from the retina is blocked. Clots in the retinal vein cause hemorrhaging and fluids to seep from the vein. Central retinal vein occlusion involves an obstruction of the primary retinal vein. In contrast, branch retinal vein occlusions obstruct a smaller branch vein.
Individuals afflicted with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure may have a higher chance of developing retinal vein occlusions. Plan to meet with your physician immediately if you experience blurry vision, loss of vision and you have one of these conditions.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]7. Central Retinal Artery Occlusion
Central retinal artery blockages may result due to emboli from plaques, endocarditis, fat and atrial myxoma. It impacts the unilateral field of vision. You may notice your eye does not respond well to direct light. Your doctor can verify your diagnosis with a fundoscopy.
Fundoscopy will reveal a red fova and thin, bloodless arteries. Sufferers of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) tend to experience substantial vision loss with or without treatment. If retinal infarction occurs, the vision loss will be permanent. Infarction can occur in as little as an hour and a half, so seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]8. Occiptal Stroke
An occipital stroke may cause hallucinations, blindness or blurry vision. Occipital strokes occur due to a blockage in the arteries. The specific artery affected is the posterior cerebral artery of the brain. Those with a family history of strokes are at a higher risk for an occipital stroke.
A doctor can diagnose occipital strokes through a series of physical exams and diagnostic tests. You should always seek medical attention if you have symptoms of a stroke. These include lightheadedness, numbness, difficulty speaking and vision changes. Noninvasive vision restorative therapy may help improve your vision after an occipital stroke.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]9. Temporal Arteritis
Temporal arteritis involves an inflammation of the temporal blood vessels that transport blood to the scalp. It is a condition that necessitates immediate attention because left untreated it can cause major damages. You may experience vision loss in one or both eyes. Additionally, you could suffer an aneurysm or stroke.
Symptoms of temporal arteritis include a lack of appetite and a feeling of fullness after small bites. Brief vision loss can turn into permanent loss if not treated quickly. Other possible symptoms include jaw pain, fever, fatigue and muscle aches. It is common for the condition to occur simultaneously with polymyalgia rheumatica.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]10. Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic disease that causes a breakdown of the retina. Affected individuals will notice gradual changes in sight as retinal photoreceptors breakdown. Rods, which are sensitive to dim light, tend to be affected before cones. Thus, night blindness is an initial symptom of retinitis pigmentosa.
In cases with more cone degeneration than rod, the initial symptoms will be a difficulty distinguishing details and colors. While vision loss varies from person to person, most sufferers of the disease are considered legally blind by 40. Therapies are still being developed to treat the genetic condition.
