Transient formed visual hallucinations following macular translocation forsubfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To report the occurrence of transient formed visual hallucinations following macular translocation, METHODS: Two case reports. RESULTS: Two white women aged 84 and 83 years with bilateral age-related ma cular degeneration and unilateral subfoveal choroidal neovascularization un derwent macular lar translocation with punctate retinotomy (limited macular translocation) and chorioscleral infolding in the eye with neovascularizat ion. They complained of formed visual hallucinations which began within 24 hours following macular translocation and ceased 7 and 3 days postoperative ly, respectively. Their symptoms occurred in the presence of normal cogniti on, orientation and insight, were not associated with other psychiatric sym ptoms, and were characteristic of Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS). CONCLUSION: The temporary deliberate retinal detach ment and/or poor vision following macular translocation may be associated with postoperative CBS, and this report extends the spectrum of conditions associated with CBS. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.