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An atypical case of Charles Bonnet syndrome secondary to advanced cataracts

Harry Birrell and Kong‐Chan Tang
Med J Aust 2022; 216 (4): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51421
Published online: 7 March 2022

A 73‐year‐old woman presented to her general practitioner with visual hallucinations. She described seeing cult and devil worshippers, and a big brown bear being patted by the devil. The hallucinations were vivid, not interactive, and she retained variable but present insight that they were not real. She had one previous admission to a mental health unit for attempted suicide in the context of domestic violence, and a previous dependence on benzodiazepine. Medical history was significant for ischaemic heart disease and restless leg syndrome.


  • 1 Ophthalmology Eye Surgery Associates, Orange, NSW
  • 2 Orange Health Service, Orange, NSW



Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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