Age-Related Macular Degeneration Can Cause Hallucinations

Dr. Katia Taba, Board-Certified Ophthalmologist and Retinal Specialist
Information previously published in the American Academy of Ophthalmology:

Vision loss from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or other causes is known to cause some people to see faces or shapes that aren’t really there. But a new study suggests these hallucinations, known as Charles Bonnet syndrome, affect many more people with AMD than previously thought.

More than 12% of people with AMD experience visual hallucinations, the study found. The actual number may be even higher. On average, people experience these hallucinations on and off for about 3 years. Those who experience hallucinations tend to see multiple types of images, particularly people and faces.

Many people keep quiet about these phantom images for fear they’ll be labeled with dementia or a psychiatric condition. Their hesitancy to speak up could explain why hallucinations were thought to be relatively uncommon.

These hallucinations may occur when brain waves crave new images and recall memories or resort to creating new images.

These phantom images may be simple lines, shapes, flashes of light or more complex images of faces, people or animals. They can occur at any time and last for seconds, minutes or hours. Sometimes the images remain still, other times they move around. People with significant vision loss, especially loss of central vision, are most often affected.

How to cope with visual hallucinations
There is no cure or treatment for Charles Bonnet syndrome, but there are strategies to stave off episodes and cope with hallucinations that occur.

If you feel you are seeing things that aren’t really there, reach out to your doctor or ophthalmologist. They will rule out other causes of visual hallucinations like neurological conditions or medication-related side effects.

If your doctor thinks you have Charles Bonnet syndrome, they will give you techniques to manage the hallucinations. These include:

Changing your lighting conditions and environment
Blinking frequently or moving your eyes side-to-side rapidly while keeping your head still. Sleeping, exercising and/or relaxing, as fatigue and stress can exacerbate hallucinations.

Diagnosing AMD
During an eye exam, your ophthalmologist may ask you to look at an Amsler grid. This grid helps you notice any blurry, distorted, or blank spots in your field of vision. Your ophthalmologist will put dilating eye drops in your eye to widen your pupil. This allows him or her to look through a special lens at the inside of your eye.

Your ophthalmologist will put dilating eye drops in your eye to widen your pupil. This allows him or her to look through a special lens at the inside of your eye.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a specialized equipment used to scan the retina and provides very detailed images of the retina and macula.

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is another specialized equipment used to look closely at the blood vessels in and under the retina. This is like fluorescein angiography but does not use a dye.

Your doctor may do fluorescein angiography to see what is happening with your retina. Yellow dye (called fluorescein) is injected into a vein, usually in your arm. The dye travels through your blood vessels. A special camera takes photos of the retina as the dye travels throughout its blood vessels. This shows if abnormal new blood vessels are growing under the retina.

Test Your Vision with the Amsler Grid
AMD causes your vision to change over time. You may not notice these changes when they happen. But you need to catch vision changes as soon as possible. Treating them early can help slow or stop further loss of sight. You should use an Amsler grid every day to monitor your vision.

Here is how to use the Amsler grid at home:
Keep the Amsler grid in a place where you see it every day. Many people keep an Amsler grid on their refrigerator door or on their bathroom mirror.

In good light, look at the grid from about 12–15 inches away. Be sure to wear your reading glasses if you normally use them.

Cover one eye. Look directly at the dot in the center of the grid with your uncovered eye. Notice if any of the lines look bent or wavy. See if any part of the grid looks blurry, dim, or out of shape.

Now cover your other eye and test your vision this same way again.

Call your ophthalmologist right away if you notice that any lines or parts of the grid look wavy, blurry, or dim.

Personalized Retina Care of Naples
If you are experiencing any changes in your eye health, whether it is blurry vision, pain, impaired vision, or any other visual irregularities, you should see an ophthalmologist right away. The earlier a disease is detected, the better the outcome and treatment options are for you. You will find a friendly and warm environment at Personalized Retina Care of Naples.

Please call (239) 325-3970 today to schedule your eye exam. When necessary same day appointments can often be accommodated.

Personalized Retina Care of Naples provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for retinal disorders. Dr. Taba also gives second opinions on retinal and general eye conditions. Dr. Taba is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist and is Fellowship trained in surgical and medical retinal diseases.

Retina Care
www.retinanaples.com | 239-325-3970

3467 Pine Ridge Rd., Suite 103, Naples 34109

Sources:
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amd-macular-degeneration
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/hallucination-age-related-macular-degeneration-amd