The Charles Bonnet syndrome: a case report.

The Charles Bonnet syndrome is a condition in which individuals experience complex visual hallucinations without evident psychopathology or disturbance of normal consciousness. Although it can affect people of any age, it is more frequent among the elderly. It occurs mostly in people with damaged sight, as a result of peripheral eye pathology or pathology within the brain. A common definition of the syndrome is, however, not yet available nor has its pathophysiology been elucidated. This report concerns a 72-year-old widow who was practically blind after a cataract operation on both eyes ten years ago. Visual hallucinations appeared in the absence of other psychopathological symptoms. During hospitalization of the patient, an extensive meningeoma sellae turcicae was discovered, which destroyed both nervi optici. This case shows that multiple causes of the Charles Bonnet syndrome should be taken into consideration and that an exact diagnostic evaluation is essential.