Halos and glare are common in the weeks after cataract surgery, especially when driving at night or looking at bright lights. They usually improve as the eye heals and the brain adapts.
Why Halos Occur
Several factors can contribute to these visual effects.
- Healing incisions, temporary swelling, and dry eye can scatter light.
- Multifocal or extended‑depth‑of‑focus lens implants may produce rings or starbursts around lights as part of their design.
- Residual refractive error or uncorrected astigmatism can also affect night vision.
- Most people notice gradual reduction in symptoms over weeks to months.
What You Can Do
Practical steps help manage glare while you adapt.
- Use lubricating drops regularly and avoid driving at night until you feel confident.
- Anti‑glare glasses, clean windscreens, and avoiding oncoming headlights where possible can make driving easier.
- Discuss persistent or very troublesome glare with your surgeon, as additional treatments or prescription tweaks may help.
- Seek urgent review if halos are sudden in onset and accompanied by pain, redness, or a drop in vision.
