Anton syndrome facts for kids

Anton syndrome, also known as Anton-Babinski syndrome, is a very rare condition. It happens when there is damage to a specific part of the brain called the occipital lobe. This part of the brain helps us see.

People with Anton syndrome are actually blind because of this brain damage. However, they strongly believe they can see. They might even argue with others who try to show them they are blind. They often make up stories or details to fill in what they can't see. This syndrome is named after a doctor named Gabriel Anton. Only a few cases have been written about.

What It Looks Like

Anton syndrome often appears after a stroke or a head injury. People with this condition might seem confused at first. It can take a few days for family or nurses to realize the person can't see. This is because the person usually doesn't say they are blind. In fact, they act and talk as if they can see perfectly well.

But then, people might notice the person bumping into furniture or falling over things. They might try to walk through a wall or a closed door. Even more strangely, they might describe people or objects that are not really there. This is called confabulation. It means they are making up details to fill in the missing information.

Why It Happens

Scientists are still learning why people with Anton syndrome deny their blindness. There are a few ideas. One idea is that the part of the brain that sees can't properly talk to the parts that handle language. So, the brain gets visual information but can't understand it. Then, the language part of the brain just makes up a story.

Another idea is that the brain damage stops different parts of the brain from working together. This includes areas for vision, memory, and understanding what's happening. Because of this, the brain can't compare what it's seeing (or not seeing) with past experiences. This makes it hard for the person to realize they have a problem.

For example, a 96-year-old man lost his vision suddenly after a blood clot in his brain. But he insisted he could see, even though doctors proved he couldn't. An MRI scan showed damage to his right occipital lobe. Similarly, a 56-year-old woman couldn't name objects or tell if the light changed. She also didn't seem to know she couldn't see.

How It's Found

Even though a person with Anton syndrome is blind, they will act and talk as if they can see normally. People around them might notice something is wrong when the person starts bumping into things. They might fall over objects or have trouble finding their way around a room. They might even try to walk through walls or closed doors.

Another sign is when they start describing people or things that are not actually there. They might also seem confused. People with Anton syndrome might make excuses for why they can't see. They might say it's too dark, or that the lighting isn't good enough. They might even try to prove they can see, which can put them in danger.

History

Most cases of Anton syndrome are seen in adults. However, a special report in 2007 described a six-year-old child with Anton syndrome. This child also had early signs of another condition called adrenoleukodystrophy.

The child had unusual eye movements and would often fall. He would reach for things but miss them. When his eyesight was tested, he couldn't read the large letters on the chart, even though his vision was technically 20/20. He didn't complain of headaches or eye pain. He seemed calm and didn't realize he had poor eyesight. His mother said his eyes had a "roving quality," meaning they moved around a lot.

Culture and society

Anton syndrome has appeared in popular culture. It was shown in an episode of the TV show House M.D.. It is also a big part of the book The Insult by Rupert Thomson. The science fiction book Blindsight by Peter Watts also mentions it.

The syndrome is often called "Anton's Blindness" in the book The Value of Nothing by Raj Patel. In the movie Dogville by Lars von Trier, a character named Jack McKay acts like he can see, but he shows many signs that he cannot.

Anton syndrome is also the main topic of the Malaysian movie Desolasi (Desolation). In this movie, the characters live in their own imaginary worlds because they cannot see the real world. The syndrome is also mentioned in Oliver Sacks's book An Anthropologist on Mars.

See also

In Spanish: Síndrome de Anton para niños

• Prosopagnosia
• Riddoch syndrome
• Visual release hallucinations