TY - JOUR
T1 - Phantom eye syndrome: types of visual hallucinations and related phenomena
AU - Roed Rasmussen, Marie Louise
AU - Prause, Jan U
AU - Johnson, Martin
AU - Toft, Peter B
AU - Rasmussen, Marie Louise Roed
AU - Prause, Jan Ulrik
AU - Johnson, Martin
AU - Toft, Peter B
N1 - Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Emotions; Eye Enucleation; Eye Evisceration; Female; Hallucinations; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ocular Physiological Phenomena; Pain; Perceptual Disorders; Prevalence; Questionnaires; Syndrome; Time Factors; Young Adult
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence of phantom eye syndrome in eye-amputated patients, to give a description of visual hallucinations, and to identify triggers, stoppers, and emotions related to visual hallucinations. METHODS: The hospital database was screened, using surgery codes for patients who had received ocular evisceration, enucleation, or secondary implantation of an orbital implant in the period 1993-2003. A total of 267 patients was found and invited to participate, 173 accepted. Patients who accepted participation had their records reviewed, and a structured interview about visual hallucinations and pain was performed by one trained questioner (M.L.R.R.). RESULTS: The prevalence of phantom eye syndrome was 51%. Elementary visual hallucinations were present in 36%, complex visual hallucinations in only 1%, and other visual hallucinations in 14%. The elementary visual hallucinations were most often white or colored light, as a continuous sharp light or as moving dots. The most frequent triggers were darkness, closing of the eyes, fatigue, and psychological stress; 54% of patients had the experience more than once a week. Ten patients were so visually disturbed that it interfered with their daily life. CONCLUSIONS: Phantom eye syndrome is common, and the authors recommend that surgeons inform their patients about the phenomenon.
AB - PURPOSE: To describe the prevalence of phantom eye syndrome in eye-amputated patients, to give a description of visual hallucinations, and to identify triggers, stoppers, and emotions related to visual hallucinations. METHODS: The hospital database was screened, using surgery codes for patients who had received ocular evisceration, enucleation, or secondary implantation of an orbital implant in the period 1993-2003. A total of 267 patients was found and invited to participate, 173 accepted. Patients who accepted participation had their records reviewed, and a structured interview about visual hallucinations and pain was performed by one trained questioner (M.L.R.R.). RESULTS: The prevalence of phantom eye syndrome was 51%. Elementary visual hallucinations were present in 36%, complex visual hallucinations in only 1%, and other visual hallucinations in 14%. The elementary visual hallucinations were most often white or colored light, as a continuous sharp light or as moving dots. The most frequent triggers were darkness, closing of the eyes, fatigue, and psychological stress; 54% of patients had the experience more than once a week. Ten patients were so visually disturbed that it interfered with their daily life. CONCLUSIONS: Phantom eye syndrome is common, and the authors recommend that surgeons inform their patients about the phenomenon.
U2 - 10.1097/IOP.0b013e3181b54b06
DO - 10.1097/IOP.0b013e3181b54b06
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 19966655
SN - 0740-9303
VL - 25
SP - 390
EP - 393
JO - Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
JF - Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
IS - 5
ER -