Noticing glowing rings or “halos” around lights can feel unsettling, especially when you are driving at night or looking at bright screens. Sometimes, halos are harmless and go away on their own, but they can also be a sign of an eye condition that needs a doctor’s attention. At South Shore Eye Care, we help patients find out what’s causing these changes and work to protect their vision for the future.

What Are Halos Around Lights?

Halos look like bright circles or rings around lights such assuch such as headlights, streetlights, or lamps. They tend to stand out more at night or in low light, when your pupils get bigger.

Some people see halos only once in a while, while others notice them all the time. Causes can be as simple as mild eye irritation or as serious as conditions that affect the cornea, lens, or intraocular pressure.

Common Causes of Halos Around Lights

There are several eye conditions and vision problems that can cause halos.

Refractive Errors

Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can sometimes make your vision blurry and cause halos, especially if your glasses or contact lens prescription is old. Contact lenses that do not fit well can also make lights look strange.

Typical symptoms include:

• Blurred vision
• Eye strain
• Difficulty seeing clearly at night
• Halos around headlights or lamps

Dry Eye Syndrome

When your eyes are dry, the surface of your eye is not as smooth as it should be. This can make light scatter in odd ways, leading to halos, glare, or vision that comes and goes.

Symptoms often include:

• Burning or stinging
• Watery eyes
• Redness
• Sensitivity to light
• Temporary blurry vision

Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the lens within your eye gets cloudy. When light passes through this cloudy lens, it scatters and can cause halos or glare.

Common cataract symptoms include:

• Halos around lights
• Increased night-driving difficulty
• Faded or yellowed colors
• Blurred or cloudy vision
• Frequent prescription changes

Cataracts are very common as people get older and usually develop slowly over time.

Glaucoma

Sometimes seeing halos around lights can be a sign of glaucoma, a serious eye condition caused by high pressure inside the eye. One type, called acute angle-closure glaucoma, is a medical emergency and needs quick treatment.

Warning signs may include:

• Severe eye pain
• Sudden blurred vision
• Rainbow-colored halos
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Red eyes

If you notice these symptoms suddenly, get emergency eye care right away.

When Are Halos Around Lights Serious?

Halos that come and go because of tiredness, dry eyes, or minor irritation often get better with rest or simple treatment. But if halos stick around or get worse, do not ignore them.

Schedule an eye examination if you experience:

• Sudden alterations in vision
• Halos that worsen over time
• Eye pain or redness
• Difficulty driving at night
• Blurred vision that interferes with daily activities
• Light sensitivity or headaches

It is important to find the cause early, because some problems, like glaucoma, can cause lasting vision loss if they are not treated.

How an Eye Care Specialist Can Help

At South Shore Eye Care, we do thorough eye exams to find out exactly why you are seeing halos around lights. We check your vision, eye pressure, cornea, and overall eye health to create a treatment plan tailored to you.

Different treatment options for different underlying conditions may include:

• Updated prescription glasses or contact lenses
• Artificial tears for dry eye relief
• Cataract management or surgery recommendations
• Glaucoma treatment to reduce eye pressure
• Lifestyle adaptations to improve visual comfort

Our goal is to help you feel better and keep your eyes healthy and your vision clear for the long term.

Protect Your Vision With Expert Eye Care

Halos around lights are sometimes harmless, but they can also be an early sign of a more serious eye problem. Finding out the cause is the first step to getting the right treatment and seeing more clearly.

If you are seeing halos, have blurry vision, or notice more glare at night, make an appointment with South Shore Eye Care. Our team is set to help you get healthy, comfortable vision with care you can trust.