title: Visual symptoms associated with choroidal neovascularization. Photopsias and the Charles Bonnet syndrome.
abstract: One hundred consecutive patients with macular choroidal neovascularization were studied in a cross-sectional fashion. Evidence of bilateral choroidal neovascularization was present in 31 patients. Among the 100 subjects, 59% related a history of seeing flickering or flashing lights (photopsias) in the affected eye or eyes. The colors varied, but in 59% of instances the lights were white. Twelve subjects experienced formed hallucinations (Charles Bonnet syndrome); in nine (75%) of these patients, the sequelae of choroidal neovascularization were bilateral. Symptoms that are commonly attributed to vitreoretinal tractional phenomena as well as neurologic and/or psychiatric disease are also frequently encountered in patients with macular degeneration associated with choroidal neovascularization.
authors.affiliation: Retina Vascular Unit, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013577:Syndrome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014796:Visual Perception