06/04/2026
👁️✨ Why Some People See Halos Around Lights (and When It’s Serious) ✨👁️
If you notice glowing rings or “halos” around lights—especially at night, while driving, or when looking at screens—it can be an unsettling visual change. Sometimes this is temporary and harmless, but in other cases, it can signal an underlying eye condition that should be evaluated by an eye doctor.
Halos occur when light entering the eye is scattered or bent incorrectly before focusing on the retina. This can affect how clearly you see bright objects, making lights appear blurred, ringed, or overly bright.
In many cases, halos are related to common and treatable vision issues. However, persistent or sudden onset halos should never be ignored.
Common causes of seeing halos around lights:
• Dry eyes causing light distortion and glare
• Uncorrected vision or outdated prescription glasses or contacts
• Cataracts causing clouding of the eye’s natural lens
• Corneal swelling or irregularities affecting light focus
• Glaucoma, particularly acute angle-closure glaucoma (a medical emergency)
Halos that appear suddenly—especially when paired with eye pain, headache, nausea, or blurred vision—may indicate a serious condition such as acute glaucoma and require immediate medical attention.
At South Shore Eye Care, we help patients identify the cause of symptoms like halos around lights and determine whether they are related to routine vision changes or more urgent eye health concerns. Early diagnosis is key to protecting long-term vision and eye health.
If you are experiencing persistent halos or changes in vision, schedule a comprehensive eye exam with our team today.