Introduction: Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is a condition characterised by the presence of visual hallucinations, mainly complex, in patients with significant vision loss and without cognitive impairment. The rise in CBS cases is due to an increased life expectancy and to the development of age-related pathologies such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Patients and methods: We herein analyse the main characteristics present in 45 patients diagnosed with CBS at the Neuro-ophthalmology Unit in Hospital Clinico San Carlos. The patients were referred from the macular pathology, glaucoma and ocular surface units, as well as from AE, where they were diagnosed with CBS and later confirmed at the Multidisciplinary Unit formed by the ophthalmology, neurology and psychiatry services of the hospital.
Results: Women (66.66%) over 80 constituted 68.88% of the patients and mainly had AMD (37.77%). The most prevalent hallucinations described by the patients were of people and faces (35.55%), in colour (66.66%), in movement (80%), had developed over a period of 6 to 12 months (26.66%), had a frequency of 3 episodes per day (35.55%) and lasted between 3 to 5 minutes (35.55%).
Conclusions: CBS is a complex disorder that requires a multidisciplinary approach from neurologists, psychiatrists, general practitioners and ophthalmologists. New studies are needed in order to understand its clinical presentation and behaviour, and thus improve its management.
Title: Sindrome de Charles Bonnet. Serie de 45 casos.
Introduccion. El sindrome de Charles Bonnet (SCB) es un cuadro clinico que se caracteriza por la presencia de alucinaciones visuales, principalmente complejas, en pacientes con estado cognitivo conservado e importante deterioro de la vision. El incremento del SCB se debe al aumento de la esperanza de vida y al desarrollo de patologias asociadas al envejecimiento, como la degeneracion macular asociada a la edad. Pacientes y metodos. Se estudian las caracteristicas de una serie de 45 pacientes diagnosticados de SCB en la unidad de neurooftalmologia del Hospital Clinico San Carlos. Los pacientes procedian de las unidades de patologia macular, glaucoma, superficie ocular y urgencias, en las que fueron diagnosticados de SCB, que se confirmo en la unidad multidisciplinar formada por oftalmologia, neurologia y psiquiatria del mismo hospital. Resultados. El 66,66% eran mujeres, de mas de 80 anos (68,88%), principalmente con degeneracion macular asociada a la edad (37,77%). Las alucinaciones que los pacientes presentaban con mas frecuencia eran personas y caras (35,55%), en color (66,66%), en movimiento (80%), con un tiempo de evolucion de 6-12 meses (26,66%), frecuencia de tres episodios al dia (35,55%) y de 3-5 minutos de duracion (35,55%). Conclusiones. El SCB es un complejo sindrome cuya incidencia se esta incrementando en nuestras consultas y que precisa un abordaje multidisciplinar entre oftalmologos, neurologos y psiquiatras para evitar diagnosticos erroneos y proporcionar un tratamiento adecuado. Son necesarios nuevos estudios para un conocimiento mas profundo y adecuado del SCB.