BLINDNESS AND HALLUCINATIONS

   Visual hallucinations occurring in individuals with impaired vision have been reported since ancient times. Perhaps the best-known historical example is the description of Charles Lullin's * visual hallucinations, as rendered by his grandson Charles Bonnet (1720-1792), and thereafter commonly referred to as the * Charles Bonnet syndrome. Visual hallucinations are also known to occur, albeit less frequently, in partial visual field defects such as * hemianopia (resulting in so-called * hemianopic hallucinations), *quadrantanopsia, central scotoma, and *amblyopia. See also the entries Ictal blindness, Hypnotic blindness, Hysterical blindness, Change blindness, Inattentional blindness, and Negative hallucination.

   References

   Freiman, Th.M., Surges, R., Vougioukas, V.I., Hubbe, U., Talazko, J., Zentner, J., Honeg-ger, J., Schulze-Bonhage, A. (2004). Complex visual hallucinations (Charles Bonnet syndrome) in visual field defects following cerebral surgery. Report of four cases. Journal of Neurosurgery, 101, 846-853.