Symptom
Halos around lights
Sudden painful halos are an emergency
Medical reviewer Mr Mohamed Mohyudin· Last recorded site review
About this review
This page inherits the site’s previous review record. A separate, current article sign-off has not yet been recorded.
When to get urgent help
- Sudden halos with a painful, red eye
- Halos with a headache, nausea or vomiting
- Halos with sudden blurring or loss of vision
- Halos soon after eye surgery with pain or redness
Common causes
Halos come from light scattering as it passes through the eye. These are common reasons.
What can help
- Book an eye test, as cataracts and focusing problems are common causes
- Treat sudden painful halos with nausea as an emergency
- Take care driving at night if glare affects your vision
Frequently asked questions
What causes halos around lights at night?
The most common cause is cataracts, along with refractive problems such as astigmatism. Sudden halos with eye pain and nausea can signal acute glaucoma and need emergency care.
Are halos around lights serious?
Usually not, when they come on gradually with cataracts. But sudden halos with a painful red eye, headache or nausea are an emergency and need immediate care.
Can glasses or surgery help halos?
Yes. Updating your glasses can reduce halos from focusing problems, and cataract surgery often removes halos caused by a cloudy lens.
Trusted sources
For general background, these organisations provide eye-health information. This list is further reading, not a record that they reviewed this article.