What is Charles Bonnet syndrome?
In short
- Seeing patterns, people, animals or places which are not there, after losing a lot of sight. Common after macular degeneration or cataracts, and not a mental health condition.
- Seeing images or patterns which are not there, after a big drop in sight, with no sound or touch.
- Anyone who starts having hallucinations should ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111, because more serious causes need ruling out first.
Also called: CBS, Visual hallucinations with sight loss
- Part of the eye
- Sight loss and the brain
- Group
- Retina & sight loss
- Vision functions involved
- Visual field, Contrast and detail
- Main source
- NHS
Charles Bonnet syndrome causes visual hallucinations after a large loss of sight. The brain fills the gap with its own images. They can be patterns such as shapes or lines, or people, animals, objects or places, moving or still, in colour or black and white. They can start suddenly and last minutes or hours. They only affect sight: you do not hear, smell or feel things which are not there, and most people know the images are not real. It is not caused by a mental health problem or by dementia.
Ophthalmologist
A medical doctor who specialises in eye conditions and their treatment. Glossary entry
Ophthalmologist
A hospital doctor who specialises in eyes. Glossary entry
How Charles Bonnet syndrome can affect day-to-day life
You may recognise some of these situations, or none of them. The point is to find help with the things you want to do.
Patterns on a plain wall
Brickwork, lattices or faces appear on blank surfaces, often in dim light.
Turn on a brighter light and look away or blink. Tell someone what the condition is called.
Figures in the room
People or animals seem to be there, which can be frightening the first few times.
Stand up, move about, put the radio on. Ask your GP about talking therapy if it is upsetting.
Changes you may notice
- Seeing images or patterns which are not there, after a big drop in sight, with no sound or touch.
- Hallucinations which return or get worse, which can point to an infection or a medicine.
Everyone is different. Symptoms on their own cannot identify a condition.
What to do about a new or sudden changeAssessment and care
Anyone who starts having hallucinations should ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111, because more serious causes need ruling out first. There is no cure, but the hallucinations usually happen less often over time. A GP can refer you for talking therapy if they are upsetting. Your optician or ophthalmologist can check your eyes and refer you to a low-vision service.
Who gets it
Not everyone who loses sight gets Charles Bonnet syndrome. You are more likely to if your sight gets worse suddenly or you lose sight in both eyes. It is common in people with age-related macular degeneration or cataracts.
Telling people
Many people keep the hallucinations secret because they fear being thought confused. Saying the name of the condition to your GP, optician and family usually brings relief and the right help.
How vision is affected
These topics explain the parts of vision involved. They do not predict your sight, diagnose anything or show the condition itself.
Visual field
Finding a face and noticing the edge of a step make different demands on sight. One uses the centre of your view. The other uses the edges.
Open the visual field labContrast and detail
Sharp edges only help when they stand out from the background. Contrast, print size and blur each change how easy a task is.
Open the contrast and detail labEveryday support
During a hallucination, try changing the lighting, moving your eyes from side to side, standing up and moving around, or putting the TV or radio on. Good sleep, bright light bulbs, magnifiers and regular eye tests help in general. Tell your family what the condition is so they understand. RNIB, the Macular Society and Esme's Umbrella all offer support.
Driving: you must tell DVLA about an eye condition which affects both eyes, or your only seeing eye. Driving and your eyesight
Common questions
Does Charles Bonnet syndrome mean I have dementia?
No. The NHS states it is not caused by a mental health problem or by dementia. It happens because the brain fills in the gap left by sight loss.
Will the hallucinations stop?
There is no cure, but they usually happen less often over time. If they suddenly return or get worse, an infection or a medicine may be the cause, so tell your GP.
Who should I tell?
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 the first time, so other causes are ruled out. Tell your optician or ophthalmologist too. They can refer you to a low-vision service.
A question to take to your appointment
Are my hallucinations Charles Bonnet syndrome, and which of my medicines or any infection might be making them worse?Prepare your appointment checklist
Sources and review status
- Written by
- The Omnirx.io team, from the sources above
- Sources checked
- Page updated
- Next review due
- Clinical review
- Not yet. No clinician has endorsed this page.
- Reading level
- About 16 words a sentence, 248 words of guidance
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Cite this page
Glanced (2026) Charles Bonnet syndrome: what the name means, care and support. Omnirx.io team for Medstack Ltd. Available at: https://www.glanced.co.uk/condition/charles-bonnet-syndrome/ (Accessed: ). Source checked 4 October 2026.
Educational information. Follow the advice of your own eye-care team.