CBS
CBS or Charles Bonnet’s syndrome is the condition that produces vivid hallucinations for those who lose a part of or all of their vision. In a 2009 study, results showed that between ten to thirty-eight percent of the people who experience sudden visual impairment might have had the syndrome at one point or another. However, this percentage can potentially be higher since many are not comfortable disclosing their hallucinations for worry or fear of being misdiagnosed with mental health conditions.
The primary symptoms of the syndrome are hallucinations, often occurring after waking. Depending on its severity, it may, rarely or frequently, last from a few minutes to a few hours. While the content varies depending on the individual, they can include geometric shapes, people, animals, insects, landscapes, buildings, fantasy-related images, and repeating patterns like lines and grids. There have also been reports of hallucinations appearing in color or monochrome.
As previously mentioned, the onset of CBS tends to happen after sudden vision loss due to injuries, surgical procedures, or health conditions, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, severe myopia, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, optic neuritis, retinal vein occlusion, occipital stroke, and more. However, the leading cause of Charles Bonnet’s syndrome remains unknown.