Night vision symptoms – halos, glare, and starbursts around light sources – are among the most common concerns patients raise before refractive surgery. Understanding the cause and likelihood of these symptoms for each procedure is part of informed consent at Blue Fin Vision®.
Laser eye surgery creates a reshaped corneal optical zone. In the earlier era of LASIK, smaller treatment zones occasionally caused night vision disturbances in patients with large pupils. Modern laser platforms use larger optical zones and wavefront-guided or wavefront-optimised treatments, which have substantially reduced these effects.¹ Well-selected patients treated on contemporary platforms typically experience minimal night vision disturbance.
ICL surgery leaves the cornea unaltered. Because the optical surface of the cornea remains unchanged, the night vision profile with ICL is generally excellent, particularly for higher myopes, who often report subjectively better optical quality compared with their experience of spectacles or contact lenses.²
Lens replacement with multifocal intraocular lenses introduces a different optical mechanism. These lenses split incoming light into multiple focal points to provide both distance and near vision. This design can produce halos around lights, particularly during the early adaptation period. Extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) designs tend to produce fewer dysphotopsias than trifocal lenses in some patients, though the trade-off is typically some reduction in near performance.³
At Blue Fin Vision®, the choice between trifocal and EDOF lenses is discussed in the context of each patient’s visual priorities and lifestyle. Night vision expectations are addressed explicitly before surgery, not after.
References
- Sandoval HP, Donnenfeld ED, Kohnen T, Lindstrom RL, Potvin R, Nichamin LD, Lane SS. Modern laser in situ keratomileusis outcomes. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2016;42(8):1224–1234.
- Packer M. The Implantable Collamer Lens with a central port: review of the literature. Clin Ophthalmol. 2018;12:2427–2438.
- Cochener B, Boutillier G, Lamard M, Guichaoua C. A comparative evaluation of a new generation of diffractive trifocal and extended depth of focus intraocular lenses. J Refract Surg. 2018;34(8):507–514.
Related Topics
- Laser, ICL or Lens Replacement? A Surgeon’s 2026 Decision Framework
- Best Age for Laser vs ICL vs Lens Replacement
- Is ICL Safer Than LASIK for High Myopia?
- Lens Replacement vs Laser After 50: Which Lasts Longer?
- When Is Laser Eye Surgery Still the Best Option?
- ICL vs Laser for Thin Corneas: Which Is Safer?
- Hyperopic Laser vs Lens-Based Solutions: Why Blue Fin Vision® Prefers Lens
- ICL vs Lens Replacement for Young High Myopes
- Presbyopia: Laser vs ICL vs Lens Replacement Compared
- Dry Eye Risk: Laser Surgery vs ICL vs Lens Replacement
- Recovery Time: Laser vs ICL vs Lens Replacement
- Night Vision: Halos After Laser vs ICL vs Lens Replacement
- Reversibility: Why ICL Differs From Laser and Lens Replacement
- Long-Term Safety: Corneal Laser vs ICL vs Lens Exchange
- Cost Comparison: Laser vs ICL vs Lens Replacement in the UK
- High Astigmatism: Laser, Toric ICL or Toric Lens?
- Very High Myopia: Why ICL Often Becomes the Preferred Option
- Early Lens Dysfunction: When Laser May No Longer Be the Best Choice
- Enhancements After Laser, ICL or Lens Replacement
- Cataract Risk: Laser vs ICL vs Lens Replacement
- Which Is Less Invasive: Laser, ICL or Lens Replacement?
