Charles Bonnet syndrome. A 45-case series

Introduction. Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is a condition characterised by the presence of visual hallucinations, mainly complex, in patients with significant vision loss and without cognitive impairment. The rise in CBS cases is due to an increased life expectancy and to the development of age-related pathologies such as age-related macular degeneration. Patients and methods. We herein analyse the main characteristics present in 45 patients diagnosed with CBS at the Neuro-ophthalmology Unit in Hospital Clinico San Carlos. The patients were referred from the macular pathology, glaucoma and ocular surface units, as well as from A&E, where they were diagnosed with CBS and later confirmed at the Multidisciplinary Unit formed by the ophthalmology, neurology and psychiatry services of the hospital. Results. Women (66.66%) over 80 constituted 68.88% of the patients and mainly had age-related macular degeneration (37.77%). The most prevalent hallucinations described by the patients were of people and faces (35.55%), in colour (66.66%), in movement (80%), had developed over a period of 6 to 12 months (26.66%), had a frequency of three episodes per day (35.55%) and lasted between 3 to 5 minutes (35.55%). Conclusions. CBS is a complex disorder that requires a multidisciplinary approach from neurologists, psychiatrists, general practitioners and ophthalmologists. New studies are needed in order to understand its clinical presentation and behaviour, and thus improve its management.