Gran fights for aid to fight 'phantoms'

Until recently anyone elderly with serious sight loss who reported seeing images of men and women in old-fashioned dress, buildings, animals, firework patterns and mosaic designs was thought to be suffering from dementia.

Now they have been identified as victims of a little-known condition called Charles Bonnet Syndrome. There is no cure for it and few doctors or nurses are even aware of it.

June Lloyd, aged 76, from Handsworth, is a victim and when her sight deteriorated she had strange experiences. She would watch TV and then find people on the screen seemingly beside her in her own living room.

She also says it is not uncommon when it first happens to see men and women in old-fashioned clothing. Many elderly people have thought these were their parents and it was a warning sign their own death was imminent.

It is thought that the brain becomes confused when the person loses their sight and conjures up replacement images or hallucinations.

"It can be very frightening when you don't know what it is happening," said June, a mother of two.

"Those with the syndrome will often not talk about the visions through fear of being regarded as mentally ill."

Now June is leading a group of volunteers seeking to spread the word about the syndrome through the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind.

She said: "When you realise what happening you can see the funny side."

June, a Hope Valley Rotarian, says she experiences fewer phantom visions when busy, but recognises that a difficulty for many elderly people is that they can become isolated by their age.

The charity has set up a 15-member support group, the only one of its kind, and has monthly meetings to share experiences and identify ways to educate others about the condition.

The organisation is raising funds and awareness by providing information leaflets for opticians, doctors and medical centres.

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