Halos after LASIK
Halo effect, or halos, occur commonly after LASIK. Like starbursts, the severity of halos increases with increasing pupil size. The LASIK industry uses the term "glare" to describe these visual aberrations.
After LASIK, halos may appear around any relatively brighter area or reflective object. The LASIK industry does not consider these visual aberrations as a complication, even though the patient may no longer be able to drive at night. Halos and other visual disturbances after LASIK may lead to diminished quality of life.
A large retrospective study of LASIK patients found that halos were reported by 30%, glare by 27%, and starbursts by 25%. (Bailey et al, 2003)
In the top image below, the yellow caution sign and the white stripe on the edge of the road have a halo, whereas the streetlight has a starburst. The second image shows halos around table lamps and loss of contrast sensitivity after LASIK in dim light. In the third image, four variations of halos are shown.
Some images courtesy VisionSimulations.com