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Article | AAO 2026

What Visual Hallucinations and Illusions Can Tell ODs About Low Vision

For optometrists, the phenomena discussed in the session provide additional context for patient reports that may initially appear inconsistent with conventional acuity and visual field findings.

By: Sarah Fackler, managing editor, Optometric Management and Eyecare Business
Optometric Management October 3, 2026
4 Topic Commentaries

What Visual Hallucinations and Illusions Can Tell ODs About Low Vision

  • Lisa Ord, PhD, LCSW

    Vision rehabilitation; clinical social work

    •

    John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah Health

    People realize that what they're seeing isn't really there.

    Source
  • G. Jayakrishna Menon, FRCS, FRCOphth

    Ophthalmology

    •

    Royal Eye Infirmary, Plymouth, England

    I suggest that all visually impaired patients should be directly questioned regarding any hallucinatory experiences.

    Source
  • Ian C. Han, MD

    Ophthalmology (Retina)

    •

    Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

    Hallucinations typically correspond with the laterality of visual loss, but may occur in one or both eyes, or in part of the visual field.

    Source
  • Joyce Liao, MD, PhD

    Neuro-ophthalmology

    •

    Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine

    In general, people don’t think they’re going crazy, so it is very different from visual hallucinations that we see in psychosis, for instance.

    Source