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Understanding Glare and Halos After LASIK

Understanding Glare and Halos After LASIK

By Thomas Byrd, MD 

Thanks to LASIK, many people can have clear vision without glasses or contact lenses. This laser eye surgery helps improve the passage of light through the eyes, effectively treating nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. Dr. Thomas J. Byrd has performed LASIK on countless patients in the Detroit, MI area.

Side effects are common after any surgery. For LASIK patients, there may be temporary issues with glare and halos. Let’s go over the basics of these LASIK side effects and what you can do about them.

How Common Are Glare and Halos After Undergoing LASIK?

Glare and halos are extremely common side effects after undergoing LASIK surgery. Almost all LASIK patients will experience glare and halos to a certain degree. Thankfully, these side effects are temporary and can be easily managed.

Why Do Glare and Halos Happen?

When the cornea is reshaped, it can lead to changes in light sensitivity that affect your ability to see properly. It will take a while for your eyes to get accustomed to the changes to your vision and its quality. Until that adjustment occurs, bright lights may have halos around them, and you may notice issues with glare as well.

How Long Will Glare and Halos Last?

That can vary from patient to patient, but we generally find patients experience the worst of their glare and halos in the first week or so after LASIK. The glare and halos should be less of an issue as a patient continues to heal from surgery.

Night vision glare and halos may persist for a few weeks simply given the contrast between shadows and bright lights in low-light situations. That said, there will be gradual improvement in these night vision issues as the patient continues to recover from their procedure.

During your follow-up visits to our Detroit vision correction center, we can discuss how you’re recovering from your LASIK side effects. We can also offer advice on how to make these side effects more manageable.

Tips for Dealing with Glare and Halos

When it comes to dealing with glare and halos after LASIK, we recommend the following tips:

  • Wear sunglasses when outdoors

  • Wear a hat with a brim for added shade from harsh lights

  • Avoid driving on your own if your night vision is seriously affected

  • Use lubricating eye drops to help ease discomfort and irritation

What If My LASIK Side Effects Do Not Improve

If glare and halos continue to be an issue and you do not notice any improvements, it’s important that you discuss these matters with our vision care specialists as soon as possible. It could be the sign of a complication that requires professional attention and care. Even if the matter is not linked to a complication, we can suggest ways of minimizing the glare so that your vision recovers without further issues.

Long-Term Vision Enhancement Thanks to LASIK

Once the glare and halos have subsided, patients will notice much clearer vision and better overall vision quality. This is the reason that LASIK continues to be such a popular and effective option for treating refractive errors.

Learn More About LASIK

If you live in the greater Detroit area and would like more information about LASIK and laser vision correction, be sure to schedule an exam with us today! You can reach our eye care center by phone at (313) 383-1300.