{"id":9744,"date":"2021-02-06T19:59:33","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T19:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=9744"},"modified":"2021-07-26T09:21:16","modified_gmt":"2021-07-26T09:21:16","slug":"why-am-i-seeing-halos","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-blurry-vision-and-headaches\/visual-migraines\/why-am-i-seeing-halos\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Am I Seeing Halos?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seeing halos around lights can be a cause for concern, or it can be completely normal.\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you notice a sudden appearance of halos or they\u2019re accompanied by pain, blurred vision or other severe symptoms, seek immediate medical care, as this can signal a serious eye condition.<\/em><\/p>\n

Why do halos appear?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Halos are bright, colorful circles that appear around lights. They are most often noticed at night time around street lights and headlights and can significantly affect vision clarity while driving.<\/p>\n

The appearance of halos around light sources can be caused by a variety of eye conditions, specifically those that alter the shape of the cornea<\/a> and cause the light that enters the eye to bend in an unusual way.<\/p>\n

How is a clear image produced?<\/b><\/h2>\n

In order to produce a clear image, the eyes must complete a specific process that heavily relies on the integrity of each of the ocular structures.<\/p>\n

When we look at an object, the light that is reflected off of the object enters the eye through the clear front layer of the eye, called the cornea. The cornea bends the light before it passes through a watery substance that fills the area behind the cornea (aqueous humor), on its way to the pupil.<\/p>\n

The light then passes through the pupil to the lens behind it. The lens adjusts its shape to bend and focus the light a second time, to ensure that a clear image will be seen.<\/p>\n

After it bends a second time, the light travels to the back of the eye which is filled with a clear, gelatinous substance (vitreous) until it reaches the retina<\/b><\/a>, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye.<\/p>\n

From the retina, the visual information is sent to the brain where it is interpreted and processed for the production of a clear image.<\/p>\n

The process of seeing<\/a> is dependent on the perfection of the eye and all of its structures, including:<\/p>\n