Back to Search Start Over

Clinical Characteristics of the Charles Bonnet Syndrome in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Importance of Early Detection.

Authors :
Esteves Leandro, João
Beato, João
Catarina Pedrosa, Ana
Pinheiro-Costa, João
Falcão, Manuel
Falcão-Reis, Fernando
Carneiro, Ângela M.
Source :
Ophthalmic Research. 2020, Vol. 63 Issue 5, p466-473. 8p.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Purpose: We investigated the characteristics, prognosis, and clinical outcome of the Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Five hundred psychiatrically healthy patients with neovascular AMD were screened for CBS. The individuals that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were systematically interviewed using a structured questionnaire that covered the impact, prognosis, risk factors, phenomenology, symptoms, and knowledge about the syndrome. A control group of 45 patients was used for comparison. Demographic data, current medication, and ocular risk factors were collected in all patients. Results: Forty-five patients with CBS were identified. The majority of patients reported images that consisted of colored (62%) animals (44%) or faces (42%) that lasted for seconds (53%). Most patients reported a selflimited disease with a median duration of symptoms between 9 and 11.5 months, with only 7% knowing about CBS at symptom onset. The degree of visual deficit did not predict the characteristics, complexity, frequency, duration, or impact of visual hallucinations. One-third of patients reported negative outcome, which was associated with shorter duration of CBS (p = 0.023), fear-inducing images (p < 0.001), and impact on daily activities (p = 0.015). Conclusion: The prevalence of CBS in neovascular AMD patients is high and clinically relevant. Patients with recent onset of visual hallucinations and describing fear-inducing images are at greater risk for negative outcome. Periodic screening may minimize the negative consequences of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00303747
Volume :
63
Issue :
5
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Ophthalmic Research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
145277616
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1159/000506137