There are a variety of reasons one might see haloes around lights:

#1 – Uncorrected Prescription

An uncorrected prescription, even a mild one, can create this symptom. Something as simple as wearing an accurate pair of glasses can resolve this.  

#2 – Dry Eyes

While you may not expect it, dryness can cause haloes and blurring. Your tear film contributes significantly to the quality of your vision, and so if it’s not in good condition, you may experience issues with your sight.  

#3 – Cataracts

As we get older, we naturally develop cataracts. It is an inevitable aging change to the lens inside your eye. As cataracts get worse, they can affect the quality of your vision, including creating glare and haloes around lights. 

#4 – Eye Disease

More severe eye diseases such as an acute angle closure can create haloes and blurring in one eye. However, this is very uncommon and if it were happening there would be other extreme symptoms too such as significant pain, pressure, and redness.

#5 – Laser Surgery

If you have had laser surgery to correct your prescription, it is common to have haloes around lights afterwards, especially during the initial healing period. However, even after a few years, you may still experience it. This can be due to the pupil becoming bigger in the dark/at night, which can cause you to see beyond the laser treated area of your cornea thus creating a halo effect. 

#6 – Migraines

Some people have a precursor to a migraine called a visual aura or an ocular migraine. This can present in many ways, but one of them is haloes. These usually self-resolve, and you may get a headache afterwards. 

All of these issues can be examined and addressed by your optometrist. Start by booking an eye exam! 

Thanks for reading!

Dr. Jhamb