Charles Bonnet syndrome following head trauma: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Background Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a condition characterized by vivid, complex visual hallucinations in individuals with visual impairment. Despite its prevalence among the elderly and those with degenerative eye diseases, CBS remains underdiagnosed and undertreated due to a lack of awareness and misconceptions surrounding its etiology and management. Case Report A 51-year-old man presented to the emergency room after falling off his bicycle without wearing a helmet. Head imaging revealed a small right frontoparietal traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage with an associated trace subdural hematoma along the right parietal convexity. Subsequently, he developed non-light perceiving vision loss, after which he began experiencing visual hallucinations. Conclusion CBS is frequently overlooked or left untreated. Research on diagnosing and managing CBS following head trauma is limited. Therefore, clear diagnostic criteria for CBS and a better understanding of its underlying mechanisms are needed to improve diagnosis and management strategies.

Keywords

• charles bonnet syndrome
• traumatic brain injuries
• visual hallucinations
• vision disorders
• eye hemorrhage
• neurocritical care