How long do halos last after lasik

Q: Why do I see halos around lights after LASIK?

Even though we commonly call halos a side effect” of LASIK, they are not exactly a side effect as we usually use that term. Instead, halos are a normal sign that your eye has started recovering. These halos appear because good fluid in your cornea accumulates, and this leads to swelling in your cornea.

Here at GW Eye Associates in La Jolla, we are committed to giving people the facts when it comes to their eye care options. This is especially important when it comes to LASIK surgery. LASIK eye surgery can reduce your dependence on contact lenses and eye glasses, allowing you to see clearly.

Table of Contents Show

What are halos exactly?
Why do halos occur after LASIK?
How long will these halos last?
What other light problems will I notice after LASIK surgery?
What can I do to prevent halos or make them go away faster?
Discuss LASIK and Other Vision Correction Options
Related to This
How do you get rid of halos after LASIK?
Why do I see halos around lights after LASIK?
Can halos be permanent?
Can you fix halos from LASIK?

Surgeries aren't without side effects, however, which are a natural part of healing. One such side effect of LASIK is halos. Let's take a moment to consider what causes halos and how the severity and duration of the side effects can be reduced.

What are halos exactly?

Halos refer to smudges of light that appear around luminous or bright objects. This can be around a light itself or around some object that is bright relative to its surroundings, such as a yield or stop sign at night.

Halos are distinct from other light problems that may be faced following LASIK, such as glare and starbursts, though these all tend to be interrelated.

Why do halos occur after LASIK?

In order to answer this question, it's important to consider the nature of LASIK surgery itself.

During LASIK, a small flap is created in the topmost layer of the cornea, also known as the epithelium. Through this epithelial flap, a laser can be used to reshape and recontour the cornea.

Because of the changes to the shape of your corneas as well as the flap creation, you will necessarily notice differences in how you perceive light. These will generally diminish as you heal and as you get used to the new cornea contour.

How long will these halos last?

In general, issues with halos, glare, and starbursts will last a few months. Keep in mind that these side effects will diminish as you get further out from surgery, meaning that the light issues will gradually improve from week to week.

It's worth noting that issues with glare and halos are not as severe as they are in the past thanks to advances in eye care technology. During modern custom LASIK surgery, a three-dimensional digital map of the cornea is created, allowing surgeons to target minute imperfections that may contribute to issues such as halos, starbursts, and glare.

What other light problems will I notice after LASIK surgery?

In addition to problems with glare and halos, many LASIK patients will notice acute sensitivity to light during the day, causing them discomfort when outdoors. The major light sensitivity will generally last a week or so. Night vision problems and issues with contrast sensitivity in low-light situations are also common side effects. These will diminish in the weeks and months after the procedure.

What can I do to prevent halos or make them go away faster?

The ideal way to prevent halos and other light issues from persisting is to follow your pre-op and post-op instructions to the letter. These are in place to ensure that you heal quickly and that you reduce your chances of developing major complications.

When you are outdoors, be sure to wear sunglasses and a hat with a brim to protect your eyes from the sun. Not only will this cut down on light sensitivity, it will also ensure that your eyes heal better and are protected from strain or damage.

Discuss LASIK and Other Vision Correction Options

For more information about LASIK surgery and its side effects, it's important that you contact our eye care specialists today. During your visit to GW Eye Associates, we'll be sure to discuss laser eye surgery as well as your options for non-surgical treatment in much greater detail.

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Is there any preparation required prior to the first consultation?

If you wear soft lenses it is advisable to stop wearing them for 1 week before the pre-operative consultation but if it is not possible for you to stop wearing them for 1 week then the minimum that you should stop them for is 3 days.
If you wear hard/ gas permeable lenses it is advisable to stop wearing them for 2 weeks or for a minimum of 1 week prior to the pre-operative consultation.

What range of refractive errors can be treated?

For Hyperopia the range of error that can be treated is +6.00DS.
For Myopia the range of error that can be treated is 100- 1500.
For Astigmatism the range of error that can be treated is -6.00DS.

Can laser vision correction be done if I am pregnant?

Because there may be some changes in the shape of the cornea or lens during pregnancy as a result of the hormonal changes it is not advisable to have laser vision correction as it will lead to a risk of inaccuracy.
However you can consider having the surgery 3months after your delivery and there is no need to be worried about not being able to breast feed after the surgery, it is totally fine.
Laser vision correction is not known to be harmful to a foetus/ an unborn child.

What are the side effects? Will I go blind if it goes wrong?

Common side effects are dry eyes, light sensitivity, glare and halos during the initial weeks, but most of these side effects will subside over time.
Blindness could occur if a serious complication such as infection or scarring occurs. A situation like this is rare as antibiotic eye drops are prescribed as a routine to prevent such complications.
You can be assured that EEC’s staff and doctors are trained and experienced in LASIK surgery.

How long is the treatment?

This depends on whether you are doing the pre-LASIK assessment and surgery on the same day or if you are doing this on a separate day.

For pre-LASIK Assessment and Surgery to be done on the same day:
- The pre-LASIK assessment will take about 2 to 3 hrs as you will be required to undergo tests, scans, and for your pupils to be dilated. After which, if you are found suitable for the procedure, you will need to wait between 4 to 6 hours for your pupils to constrict in order to proceed with the surgery on the same day. Pre-surgery preparations will take about 30 mins and surgery time for both eyes will be between 10 to 20 mins.
For Assessment and Surgery to be done on different days:
- In general, the pre-LASIK assessment will take about 2 to 3 hr from start to finish. On the surgery day, pre-surgery preparations will take about 30 mins and the surgery time for both eyes will be between 10 to 20 mins.

Is it painful?

Local anaesthetic eye drops will be administered throughout the surgery so there is no pain during the procedure, just some pressure-like sensation that may be felt at times.

How long does it take to recover?

Patients usually experience functional vision within 24 hrs and thereafter their vision will gradually improve over the next few days. Please note that vision stability will vary from person to person. Some individuals may take 1 month while others can take up to 3 months for their vision to stabilize.
For Epi-LASIK surgeries, the recovery period would usually be between 5 days to 1 week, and 1 to 3 months for your vision to stabilize.

Can both eyes be operated on at the same time? If not, when can I have the other eye done?

Yes, both eyes can undergo LASIK surgery on the same day.
We can perform the surgery on a separate sitting if you wish. After the first surgery is done, you can do the second surgery on the following day or one week later.
However, performing the LASIK surgery on separate days is not advised as you may experience giddiness and discomfort due to imbalance of vision during the interim period between the firstand second eye. There were initial concerns regarding the safety of simultaneous LASIK being performed on the same day but it has been shown that there is no significant increase in risk compared to LASIK done on a separate sitting. In fact, simultaneous LASIK offers convenience and significant reduction in downtime.

When can I exercise or swim after the surgery?

In general, normal activities can be resumed after 1 week, but please refrain from swimming or water sports for 2 weeks. In addition, for LASIK surgery patients, we would advise you to avoid contact sports for 1 month to avoid accidental injury to the eye which may affect the corneal flap.

What happens if my vision is not fully corrected after the procedure?

In some cases with undercorrection or overcorrection after the initial laser treatment, an enhancement surgery can be performed. This enhancement surgery can be done about 4 months after the LASIK procedure.
This time interval is to allow stability of the refraction to be achieved before enhancement surgery is performed.

Can I still use spectacles or contact lenses if the treatment does not give satisfactory results?

Yes, you can still wear spectacles if the treatment doesn’t give you satisfactory results.
It may not be possible to wear soft contact lenses in all cases as the shape of the cornea has been changed by the laser surgery. Hard contact lenses (Rigid gas permeable lenses) however, can be fitted for all post LASIK cases.
On the other hand, we can also plan an enhancement surgery to help improve your vision.

How long will the correction last?

Laser vision correction is permanent. There might be fluctuations in vision in the initial 3 to 6 months while the eye is healing but thereafter, the result will be permanent.

Can I use Medisave?

No you can’t use your Medisave unless the LASIK surgery was done due to health issues and not for cosmetic purposes.

How do I know if I am suitable for LASIK surgery?

To determine if you are a suitable LASIK candidate, you have to make an appointment with us for a thorough pre-LASIK assessment. Without examining your eyes physically, there is no other way to tell if you are a suitable candidate for the surgery.
The general criteria that you must fulfil would be that you have to be older than 18, that you are not pregnant, that you have no Cataract, Glaucoma or any retina diseases. Further tests will then be needed to determine degree, cornea shape and thickness for a true LASIK suitability determination.

What is the difference between LASIK, Epi-LASIK and ReLEX (SMILE)?

A flap is created during LASIK surgery whereas Epi-LASIK surgery does not require any flap.
In addition for Epi-LASIK surgeries, patients may experience slight pain/ discomfort and a slightly slower recovery compared to LASIK surgeries.
Epi-LASIK is suitable for patients with thin corneas and those active in contact sports.

What is ReLEX (SMILE)?

ReLEx SMILE stands for Refractive Lenticule Extraction, Small Incision Lenticule Extraction. It is an all-laser refractive surgery procedure designed for the correction of myopia. This is currently believed to be a new alternative to conventional Bladeless LASIK.
In SMILE surgery, a femtosecond laser cuts a lens-shaped layer (a lenticule) from within the cornea. The lens is removed through a LASIK type flap, or removed through a small keyhole incision (Smile), done using one laser.

Is the procedure ‘reversible’?

Reversibility of this procedure is still in its experimental phase right now, as repositioning such thin tissues back to the eye is may induce astigmatism or irregularities. Researchers have not conducted the trials to prove suitability of the re-implantation process for humans so actual success of reversibility cannot be proven as yet.

Eagle Eye Centre will evaluate and determine which procedure is best for you. We will inform you of the benefits and risks of each procedure, and answer all of your questions regarding the procedures.

If you’re interested in EPI-LASIK, schedule a consultation to determine if you are a good candidate for EPI-LASIK, LASIK, or another refractive surgery treatment.

Locate us

Mt Alvernia

820 Thomson Road,
Mount Alvernia Hospital,
Medical Centre D, #06-57/58/59/60/61/62
Singapore 574623

Fax: (65) 6456 1006

Mt Elizabeth Orchard

Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre,
3 Mount Elizabeth #08-08,
Singapore 228510

Fax: (65) 6836 0002

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Parkway East Medical Centre,
319 Joo Chiat Place,
#05-03 Singapore 427989

Fax: (65) 6348-1001

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38 Irawaddy Road,
Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre,
#08-22/23/24 Singapore 329563

Fax: (65) 6570 1001

Westgate

Westgate Mall,
3 Gateway Drive,
#02-42A Singapore 608532

Fax: (65) 6250-6066

Royal Square at Novena

Royal Square Novena Medical Centre at Royal Square at Novena,
101 Irrawaddy Road,
#11-07 to 13 Singapore 329565

Fax: (65) 6456-1002

King Albert Park

KAP Residences Mall,
9 King Albert Park,
#01-42/43/44 Singapore 598332

Fax: (65) 6475-1880

How do you get rid of halos after LASIK?

The phenomenon occurs because fluid within the recently-treated cornea causes light to scatter. As soon as this fluid clears up, the halo disappears on its own. Halos are not a side-effect of LASIK surgery – it is simply a part of the natural healing process.

Why do I see halos around lights after LASIK?

Even though we commonly call halos a “side effect” of LASIK, they are not exactly a side effect as we usually use that term. Instead, halos are a normal sign that your eye has started recovering. These halos appear because good fluid in your cornea accumulates, and this leads to swelling in your cornea.

Can halos be permanent?

It is possible for night glare and halos to persist long-term after laser refractive surgery. This is most often related to a residual refractive error due to under or overcorrection – a small residual prescription or astigmatism can cause halos as well as blurred vision.