CBS causes visual hallucinations in people with sight loss. This resource hub provides accessible, evidence-based information for veterans, families, and healthcare professionals — including free podcasts, videos, and practical self-management tools.
Sources: Potts (2019); Jones, Lee, et al. (2025); Blind Veterans UK (2017); Pezzullo et al. (2018).
Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is a condition in which people with partial or complete vision loss experience visual hallucinations — images, shapes, faces, or scenes that are not really there. Crucially, CBS is not a sign of mental illness or dementia, and most people are aware that what they are seeing is not real.
CBS is associated with a range of eye conditions including age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), glaucoma, and cataracts. The hallucinations occur because the brain, receiving less visual information from the eyes, begins generating its own images — a process called deafferentation.
Hallucinations can vary widely: some people see simple flashes or patterns, while others see detailed images of people, animals, or moving scenes. They may last seconds or persist for extended periods, and can occur anywhere — including outside the home, where they may affect safety and confidence.
Despite affecting an estimated one million people in the UK, CBS remains poorly understood and frequently undiagnosed. Many people are reluctant to disclose their experiences for fear of being thought 'mad' — making awareness and open conversation essential.
When the eyes send less information to the brain, the visual cortex compensates by generating its own internal images. This is not a sign of psychological illness.
They range from simple shapes, colours, or flashes, to complex images of faces, animals, landscapes, or moving scenes. Some veterans report military-related imagery.
Duration varies considerably — from a few seconds to several hours. Frequency ranges from occasional to daily episodes, sometimes occurring outside the home.
Approximately 20% of people with moderate-to-severe visual impairment are expected to experience CBS. Around one million people in the UK are currently affected.
Over 59,000 veterans in the UK live with a visual impairment. Research suggests approximately 11% of visually impaired veterans experience CBS — with numbers projected to rise as the veteran population ages.
Some veterans report hallucinations featuring imagery connected to their military service — a presentation not commonly seen in the general population — which may intensify distress for those carrying combat-related memories.
Fear, confusion, and distress are common initial responses, particularly when hallucinations involve threatening content. Many veterans find the experience most difficult when first diagnosed, before understanding what is happening.
Around 40% of CBS episodes in veterans occur outside the home, affecting mobility, confidence, and social participation. Loneliness — already prevalent in veteran communities — may worsen the impact of CBS.
"More than three-quarters of veterans in our study experienced both simple and complex hallucinations on a daily or weekly basis. For many, it was the fear of not understanding what was happening that caused the greatest distress."— Jones, Lee, et al. (2025), Study of 115 Military Veterans with CBS
Developed from current research and the lived experience of veterans, the CLEAR acronym provides a simple, memorable set of steps to help manage a visual hallucination episode in the moment. When a hallucination occurs, it can be difficult to think clearly — CLEAR gives you five practical steps to interrupt or reduce its impact and remind yourself that you are safe.
Take a slow, deep breath. Remind yourself that what you are seeing is caused by CBS — it is not dangerous and it will pass.
Shift your gaze to a different area or direction. Changing your visual focus can interrupt or reduce the hallucination.
Engage your eyes actively — blink rapidly, move to a differently lit area, or focus on a specific object or text nearby.
Do something that stimulates your senses — stand up, move to another room, turn on a light, or talk to someone nearby.
Remind yourself — and those around you — that CBS is a recognised, common condition. You are not alone and help is available.
All resources were developed through co-production with military veterans and healthcare professionals, and are freely available to access, share, and use.
A 40-minute podcast for clinicians across general practice, ophthalmology, mental health, and elderly care, as well as rehabilitation officers and support workers. Covers CBS history, aetiology, diagnosis, prevalence, clinical features, psychosocial impact, and management. Includes veterans' first-hand accounts. The accompanying script can be used to claim CPD credits.
A 20-minute podcast in plain, accessible language explaining what CBS is, why hallucinations happen, and how to manage them. Includes personal stories from veterans, discussion of triggers, and the CLEAR strategy. Signposts to further support services.
A concise 5-minute introduction for veterans and families wanting a fast overview. Covers why CBS occurs, what hallucinations can look like, how to use the CLEAR strategy, and where to find further support.
A 3-minute whiteboard animation designed for general audiences to raise awareness of CBS in military veterans. Covers what CBS is, how it presents, its impact on veterans, the CLEAR strategy, and how to access support. Disseminated on YouTube and TikTok to maximise accessibility.
If you or someone you know is experiencing CBS, a number of specialist services can help — from vision rehabilitation to emotional support.
Specialist support, rehabilitation and community for veterans with sight loss.
Information, helpline, and practical support for people living with sight loss.
Guidance on how to raise CBS with your eye specialist or GP, and what to ask.
CBS-related distress is real. Signposting to NHS mental health and veteran-specific wellbeing services.
All resources on this site were developed as part of a co-produced research programme investigating Charles Bonnet Syndrome in military veterans with visual impairments. The study was conducted at Northumbria University in partnership with veterans, healthcare professionals, and vision rehabilitation specialists.
The co-production methodology was fundamental to the design of every resource: veterans participated directly in Phase 1 workshops, contributing their lived experience to shape the content, language, and format of the podcasts, the CLEAR strategy, and the animated video. Healthcare professionals reviewed and validated clinical content throughout development.
The research contributes to a growing evidence base on CBS in veteran populations — a group with distinct risk factors and presentation characteristics that have been insufficiently studied until recently. The resources are intended to be living documents, updated as the evidence base develops.
For enquiries about the research, collaboration, or use of these resources in clinical or educational settings, please contact the research team at Northumbria University.