Out of sight, am I losing my mind? A case report on Visual Release Hallucinations – Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Visual release hallucinations, also known as Charles Bonnet Syndrome, is a fairly common condition that goes unrecognized by more than 50% of all physicians. The syndrome is characterized by complex visual hallucinations in patients who have experienced partial or complete loss of vision. The hallucinations are exclusively visual in nature, usually temporary, and unrelated to mental and behavioral disorders. To make the diagnosis of CBS, patients must maintain some degree of insight into the unreal nature of their visual experiences, with an absence of delusions and hallucinations in other sensory modalities. This case report details a 93-year-old male with a history of mild cognitive impairment and bilateral cataracts who was found to have visual release hallucinations on hospital admission. The purpose of this case report is to increase awareness for Charles Bonnet Syndrome as a potential cause of visual hallucinations, particularly in elderly patients with a history of visual impairment.