Post-LASIK Risk of Halos and Starbursts around Bright Lights at Night
Almost every kind of treatment – regardless of its safety or success rate – is accompanied by several potential side effects. While these side effects can be inconvenient and often discomforting, it is important to be aware of them when making your decision whether or not to go ahead with any given treatment. And Laser Eye Surgery is no exception.
Laser Eye Surgery is now the most commonly performed elective procedure in the world. Along with this impressive statistic, it is also considered extremely safe and effective. But that doesn’t mean it is without its side effects.
Unfortunately, these side effects are often inadequately explained, hidden in microscopic print, or simply brushed under the rug by some Laser Eye Surgery providers. This is usually for a simple reason – they are driven by sales figures. However, we recognise the importance of being fully informed when making a decision as important as this one. So, let’s talk about Laser Eye Surgery’s side effects!
One of the more common side effects of Laser Eye Surgery is the appearance of halos and starbursts around light sources.
Night Glare: Halos and Starbursts after LASIK
LASIK is the most commonly performed Laser Eye Surgery procedure. The vast majority of patients will be suitable for this treatment (and PRK/LASEK or ReLEx SMILE will likely be an option for most people who are not). As such, it is considered one of the safest elective procedures; however, there is one side effect that every LASIK patient will experience to some extent: night glare.
In the video below, our expert Laser Eye Surgeon, Mr Glenn Carp, explains what causes nighttime side effects after Laser Eye Surgery.
As Mr Carp explains, post-Laser Eye Surgery night glare occurs as a result of swelling in the eyes. While this might sound a little unpleasant, swelling is a normal part of your eye’s natural healing response following treatment. While it is unnoticeable to the eye, swelling after Laser Eye Surgery can cause changes to our vision, such as the appearance of halos and starbursts around light sources – particularly at night.
‘Halos’ are rings of glare that appear around light sources while ‘starbursts’ appear more like scattered glare.
The severity and longevity of these symptoms can vary significantly from patient to patient. One patient may not even notice night glare after their Laser Eye Surgery while another may find them extremely noticeable. Similarly, some patients may find that these side effects resolve within a few days or weeks while others may notice them for months to come.
Swelling in the eyes after Laser Eye Surgery typically takes around three months to settle. This means that most patients will also stop experiencing night glare at this time; however, this isn’t always the case.
As Mr Carp explains, “If patients still have residual night vision glare after that time period, testing can be performed to ascertain where that night vision glare is originating from and, therefore, what can be done to resolve that for them.”
Minimising the Risk of Night Glare
As mentioned above, some night glare should always be expected following Laser Eye Surgery treatment. All patients will require a period of adjustment and healing following their procedure; however, some things can be done to manage and reduce the impact of night glare.
Pupil size can have a significant effect on the severity of night glare. For example, night glare can appear worse if a patient’s pupils dilate beyond the area of the cornea that was treated in their procedure. It is therefore important to have a thorough consultation at your chosen clinic – which should include pupillometry tests to determine whether or not your clinic can treat a large enough area of your cornea before qualifying you for surgery.
While night glare can be an inconvenience, in most cases, it is a short-lived symptom that resolves on its own. However, in some situations, it can be more troublesome – for example, if you are driving at night.
Head lights of other cars and street lights can make night glare seem unbearable and can even make driving at night more dangerous for patients post-surgery. Thankfully, some things can be done to minimise this impact.
Some patients find that keeping the overhead light on inside the car can stop their pupils from dilating too much, which can help to reduce night glare. You can also try medicated eye drops which can work in the same way, reducing the effect of glare on your vision in low light.
If you’d like to learn more about the potential side effects of Laser Eye Surgery, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators. To find out if you are suitable for treatment, Book a Consultation today.
