Suggest Treatment For Visual Hallucinations

Posted on Fri, 12 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 Answered on

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My 86 year old mother-in-law is "seeing bugs" on her clothes and on the floor. My wife took her to the doctor and the doctor suggested she clean her floors and see an eye doctor. She has called an exterminator twice. She gets angry with everyone who disagrees with her regarding the "bugs" she sees. We haven't taken her to the eye doctor yet. The family is very concerned especially since she really gets upset and mean. Any ideas? Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Dadapeer K (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It can be because of floaters.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care Magic.

I am Dr. Dadapeer K, an ophthalmologist and I answer health problems related to eye.

I reviewed your history.
It seems from the history that your mother in law is having problem of seeing bugs.

This can be because of floaters in the visual field and they occur because of problems The involving the posterior segment like vitreous degenerations. These are common in elderly people.
Most of them do not require treatment and resolve.
However examination of the eye by indirect ophthalmoscope is required you rule out other conditions like vitreous detachment, retinal thinning, retinal tear....
Hence I advise you to consult your ophthalmologist for examination and treatment accordingly.
If the eye e animation is normal need to consult a physician or psychiatrist for treatment of anxiety.

Do write back to me for further questions.

Hope this is helpful to you.

Thank you
With regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju