Halos Around Lights
Also known as Halo Vision, Rainbow Halos, Glare Around Lights, Starbursts Around Lights, Night Driving Glare
Bottom Line
Halos around lights can come from dry eye, glasses, cataracts, or cornea swelling. Halos with severe eye pain, nausea, or sudden vision loss need emergency eye care.
Halos are bright rings or glare around lights. They often show up at night or in dim rooms. Cataracts can cause halos, glare, blurry vision, and faded colors 1.
Sudden rainbow halos with a red painful eye, headache, nausea, or vomiting can mean acute angle-closure glaucoma. That is an eye emergency because pressure can rise quickly 2.
An eye exam can check the cornea, lens, eye pressure, and retina. Treatment depends on the cause.
Common Causes
Halos happen when light scatters before it reaches the retina.
- Tear film problems can make lights smear or flare.
- Glasses or contact lenses can add glare if the prescription or fit is off.
- Cataracts cloud the lens and can cause halos around lights 1.
- Cornea swelling can bend light unevenly.
- Acute angle closure can cause painful rainbow halos and needs emergency care 2.
What the Eye Exam Checks
Your eye doctor may check vision, glasses prescription, eye pressure, the cornea, the lens, and the retina.
Bring your glasses, contact lenses, eye drops, and a list of medicines. Tell the doctor if halos are in one eye or both eyes.
Do not drive at night if glare makes the road unsafe.
Common Questions About Halos Around Lights
Next Steps
- 1Go to the emergency room for halos with severe pain, nausea, sudden vision loss, trauma, or chemical splash.
- 2Call your eye doctor's emergency line for a painful red contact-lens eye or new symptoms after eye surgery.
- 3Book an eye exam if halos are new, one-sided, or making night driving unsafe.
- 4Bring your glasses, contacts, drops, and medication list to the visit.
Find specialists for Halos Around Lights
Board-certified ophthalmologists who treat Halos Around Lights.
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