A rare disorder has caused a man to experience a terrifying phenomenon, making him see ‘demonic’ faces in the people around him. Victor Sharrah, a 59-year-old from Clarksville, Tennessee, suddenly began perceiving distorted facial features in November 2020, leading him to describe the experience as waking up in a ‘demon world.’

Sharrah was diagnosed with prosopometamorphopsia (PMO), an extremely rare neurological disorder that affects perception, causing faces to appear distorted in shape, size, texture, or color. The condition, which does not manifest in photographs or through computer screens, has given scientists a unique opportunity to visualize the warped faces experienced by individuals with PMO.

Researchers at Dartmouth College utilized digital technology to create a representation of the distorted faces perceived by Sharrah. By modifying photographs based on his descriptions, they were able to generate computer-generated images that illustrate the visual anomalies he encounters in real life. The findings were published in The Lancet, offering valuable insights into the visual distortions associated with PMO.

While PMO symptoms typically resolve within a few days or weeks, some individuals may experience prolonged effects. In Sharrah’s case, the demonic faces continue to persist, highlighting the long-term impact of the disorder. With fewer than 100 published case reports of PMO, the condition remains poorly understood, with researchers speculating that it stems from dysfunction within the brain network responsible for facial processing.

Although PMO has been associated with head trauma, stroke, epilepsy, and migraines in some cases, the precise triggers of the disorder remain elusive. As Sharrah’s harrowing experience sheds light on the debilitating effects of PMO, further research is crucial to unravel the complexities of this rare neurological condition.