Charles Bonnet Syndrome Treatment: What Helps and What Doesn’t

Medically reviewed by Christopher L. Haupert, M.D.

Written by Lizzette Cruz

Posted on July 20, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a condition that can cause visual hallucinations in people who have lost all or part of their vision, and while there is no cure, there are ways to manage it.

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For people who lose all or part of their vision and develop Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS), visual hallucinations can come and go without warning.

Although there’s no cure for CBS, there are a few ways you can try to manage it. Here we’ll review what can help with CBS and what doesn’t.

🗳️ What has helped most with hallucinations from Charles Bonnet syndrome?

Adjusting the lighting

Moving your eyes in different ways

Trying a different activity

Getting better sleep

Causes and Symptoms of CBS

CBS can develop when you have vision loss from eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The cause of CBS isn’t fully understood. Experts think CBS may be the result of your brain not receiving enough visual information from your eyes.

The main symptom of CBS is visual hallucinations. Everyone experiences these hallucinations differently.

What Doesn’t Help With CBS?

There’s currently no cure for CBS. There is no medication or surgery to prevent or eliminate the hallucinations from CBS. Research is still being done on the cause of CBS to find treatment options.

There’s currently no cure for CBS. There is no medication or surgery to prevent the hallucinations.

Triggers That Can Worsen Symptoms of CBS

Some people living with CBS may find that their hallucinations come back or worsen when they:

Have an infection
Are anxious or stressed
Experience fatigue

What Can Help With CBS?

For many people living with CBS, hallucinations become less frequent or may even stop after one or two years. That’s still a long time to have such a potentially unsettling condition.

While there are no treatment options available for CBS, there are ways to cope and manage this condition. Ask your healthcare provider for additional ways to manage the visual hallucinations.

Change Your Lighting

Take note of lighting when hallucinations occur. Do they happen in dim lighting or bright lighting? Adjust the lighting depending on when you experience more hallucinations.

If they tend to happen in dim lighting, open curtains or blinds and turn on more lighting indoors.

If you notice hallucinations happening in bright lighting, switch lights off or close window coverings.

Try Moving Your Eyes

Movement of your eyes may help stop the hallucinations while they are occurring. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the following eye movements may help:

Blinking your eyes
Moving your eyes side-to-side and up and down
Staring at or looking away from the hallucinations
Closing your eyes and then opening

Research has shown that a specific eye exercise may be able to help when a hallucination starts.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People offers these steps:

Picture two points on a wall ahead of you, at least 3 meters apart.
Stand about 5 feet away.
Without moving your head, look from the left point to the right once every second for a period of 15 to 30 seconds.
If this does not stop the hallucinations, stop and take a break for a few seconds.
Try another 15 to 30 seconds of looking from one point to the other.
If you have tried this exercise four to five times and the hallucination is still present, it is unlikely for this exercise to work.
You may want to try it again the next time you have a hallucination

Change Your Activity

Some people living with CBS may find that the hallucinations happen when they are sitting quietly. Turning the TV or some music on or getting up and walking from one room to another can also help with stopping the hallucination.

Stay Connected

Spending time and staying connected with others may help you feel less isolated. It also helps with keeping your brain engaged and active.

It may be helpful to find a support group for those living with CBS. It can be a great way to connect with others and share your experience and coping strategies.

Sleep and Management of Stress

For some people who live with CBS, fatigue and stress may worsen their hallucinations. It is important to get enough sleep and manage your stress.

Your healthcare provider may suggest relaxation techniques such as meditation or breathing exercises to reduce anxiety and support your mental health.

Everyone experiences CBS differently. Some people see images daily. For some people, it may take a few months for the hallucinations to slow down.

Some people with CBS find that the hallucinations stop with time. For others, the hallucinations may last years or be a lifelong condition.

Medications

In rare cases, healthcare providers may offer medication to help you manage hallucinations that are very distressing.

Before prescribing, the healthcare provider would rule out other causes of hallucinations and check whether these medications may be right for you.

Talk to Your Ophthalmologist

Tell your healthcare provider about any unusual visual images or hallucinations. There is no specific test to know whether you have CBS. Your healthcare provider will likely perform a physical exam, and you may be referred for a complete eye exam.

Socializing with other people keeps your brain engaged and active, which may help reduce hallucinations.

Your healthcare provider will want to know about medical history, including neurological or mental health problems. Be sure to let your provider know if you recently had eye surgery or if you are taking a new medication. Hallucinations can be a side effect; however, these are usually temporary.

Seeing hallucinations can be a scary experience. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you are feeling and how you can cope. If the hallucinations are affecting your mental health, your healthcare provider may recommend antianxiety medications or antidepressants.