Visual hallucinations are a clinical manifestation of neuro-ophthalmologic dysfunction resulting from a wide array of underlying etiologies. The history, accompanying symptom, and clinical signs are some of the important elements to determine the underlying cause for visual hallucinations. A visual hallucination is defined as a perception of an external visual stimulus when there is none. This article covers the various etiologies for patients with visual hallucinations. Visual hallucinations are classified as: Simple- These are also known as ‘elementary’ or ‘non-formed’ and are without complex images.
Some examples include lights, colors, lines, shapes, or geometric designs. Complex- These are the ‘formed’ hallucinations and can include images of people, animals, or objects. This basic classification helps in a better understanding of the underlying causes. When evaluating a patient…
