What Causes Glare and Halos?

Are you bothered by bright circles around lights, or glares that affect your vision? In many cases this is perfectly normal and nothing to be concerned about.

Glare is light that enters your eye and impedes your vision, like when a camera flash goes off.

Seeing bright circles or rings around a light source, like headlights, are known as halos. Halos around lights are most noticeable at night or when you’re in dim or dark areas. 

Causes of Glare and Halos

Halos are often normal responses to bright lights. They can also come about by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses, or they can arise as a side effect of cataract or LASIK surgery. However, if halos occur suddenly, are very disturbing, or accompanied by discomfort, blurry vision, or other symptoms, it could signal a severe eye disorder.

Halos are a typical problem linked to cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. It can be compared to a window that is frosted or yellowed, or looking through a foggy or dusty car windshield. Things look blurry, hazy or less colorful with a cataract.

Halos and glare can also originate in the retina, the thin lining in the back of the eye. If light can’t focus properly on the retina, you may begin to see halos and glare. Common eye problems that can cause halos and glare include:

• Nearsightedness (difficulty seeing things far away)
• Farsightedness (trouble perceiving things nearby)
• Presbyopia (difficulty recognizing things close by due to aging)
• Astigmatism (blurry vision due to the irregular shape of the eye)

Treatment of Glare and Halos

Before deciding on a treatment, your eye doctor will perform an eye exam to determine what causes glare and halos. Possible treatments include:

• Observation to see if the glare and halos clear up on their own
• Medicated eye drops
• Treatment for cataracts
• Wearing sunglasses during the day to reduce glare
• Using the visor on your car to keep direct sunlight out of
  your eyes

Having regular eye exams is the best way to prevent or manage halos and glare, especially as you age. If you haven’t had an eye exam in over a year, or if you notice any sudden changes in your vision, contact your eye doctor to schedule an eye exam as soon as possible.