Glare and Haloes After Cataract Surgery: What Is Normal and What Settles
By Pauline Driscoll | Medically reviewed by Mr Lewis Pereira, FRCOphth
Published June 12, 2026 · Last reviewed June 15, 2026 · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- Some glare and haloes around lights can occur after cataract surgery while the eye settles, and they often ease over the following weeks.
- Multifocal and extended depth of focus lenses are more prone to glare and haloes than a standard monofocal lens.
- A cataract itself causes glare and haloes, so for many people night vision is better after surgery, not worse.
- Vision settles over a few weeks, with the final check usually at around 4 to 6 weeks, so it is best to judge night vision after that.
- Glare or haloes that are new, worsening or come with sudden floaters, flashes or a shadow over your vision need prompt review, as these can signal a problem.
Some glare and haloes around lights can occur after cataract surgery while the eye settles, and for most people they ease over the following weeks, while a cataract itself causes glare and haloes, so night vision is often better after surgery rather than worse1. The bigger night-vision effects tend to come with multifocal and extended depth of focus lenses, which split light to give a range of focus, rather than the standard monofocal lens I chose2.
This is the last entry in my diary cluster, after driving after cataract surgery. For the wider picture see cataract surgery recovery and the pillar cataract surgery; the lens trade-offs are covered in monofocal vs multifocal lenses.
What I actually saw at night
Some glare and haloes can occur after surgery while the eye settles, and they usually ease over the following weeks3. My own effects were mild and short-lived.
For a couple of weeks I noticed a faint ring around bright streetlights and a little extra dazzle from headlights, which I had half-expected and did not worry about. It faded steadily, and by the time my eyes had fully settled it had gone. The thing to remember is that this was nothing like the great smeared starbursts my cataract used to throw across the windscreen.
Why surgery often improves night vision
A cataract itself scatters light, causing glare and haloes and poor night vision, so removing it usually reduces that scatter1. This is the part people do not expect.
I had assumed surgery might leave me with worse night vision, when in fact the opposite was true. The cloudy lens had been the cause of my smeared, haloed headlights all along. Once it was replaced with a clear one, the lights resolved back into points and the night road was legible again. For many people, like me, the headline is improvement, not new trouble.
When the lens choice matters
Multifocal and extended depth of focus lenses are more prone to glare and haloes than a standard monofocal lens, because they split or stretch light to give a range of focus2. This is a known trade-off, not a fault.
I chose a monofocal lens partly for this reason, knowing I would still need readers but wanting clean night vision, since I value the evening drive. If you are weighing a premium lens, your tolerance of night-vision effects belongs in that decision, especially if you drive a lot in the dark. The honest pros and cons are in premium lenses are they worth it and monofocal vs multifocal lenses.
Giving it time to settle
Vision settles over a few weeks, with the final check usually at around 4 to 6 weeks, so it is best to judge night vision after that4. Early impressions can mislead.
I made a point of not deciding how my night vision really was until my eyes had settled and both were done. Judging it in the first gritty week would have been unfair to the result. Patience, again, was the quiet theme of my whole recovery, covered more fully in cataract surgery recovery.
What is not normal, and when to act
Mild, settling glare is expected, but new, worsening or severe glare and haloes, especially with sudden floaters, flashes, a curtain or shadow over vision or a drop in sight, need prompt review2. That is the line I kept in mind.
Those sudden symptoms can signal a problem such as retinal detachment or swelling, and they are not the same as the gentle ring around a streetlight that fades. Separately, if glare and blur return months or years later, that can be posterior capsule opacification, a clouding of the capsule that is not the cataract coming back and is fixed in minutes with a painless laser treatment in clinic1. For that, see posterior capsule opacification and can cataracts come back.
References
- Cataract surgery, NHS. ↩
- Cataract surgery, American Academy of Ophthalmology. ↩
- Cataract surgery commissioning guidance and patient information, Royal College of Ophthalmologists. ↩
- Cataracts in adults: management (NG77), NICE. ↩
Common questions
Is glare and haloes after cataract surgery normal?
Some glare and haloes around lights can happen after cataract surgery while the eye settles, and they often ease over the following weeks. A cataract itself causes glare and haloes, so for many people night vision is actually better after surgery, not worse. Persistent or troublesome effects are worth raising with your surgeon, especially with certain lens types.
How long do glare and haloes last after cataract surgery?
For most people any early glare and haloes ease as the eye settles over a few weeks, with vision usually checked at around 4 to 6 weeks. With a standard monofocal lens, night-vision effects are usually minor and short-lived. With multifocal or extended depth of focus lenses they can be more noticeable and last longer, and many people adapt over months. Ask your surgeon what to expect for your lens.
Why do some lenses cause more haloes than others?
Multifocal and extended depth of focus lenses split or stretch light to give a range of focus, which can create more glare and haloes at night than a standard monofocal lens that focuses at one distance. This is a known trade-off of premium lenses, not a fault. It is why the choice of lens should weigh your tolerance of night-vision effects, especially if you drive a lot at night.
Did a monofocal lens give you night-vision problems?
Very little. I chose a standard monofocal lens, and after a short settling period my night driving was far better than before surgery, because the cataract that had been smearing every headlight was gone. I noticed a faint ring around bright streetlights for a while that faded. For me the trade-off was excellent night vision in exchange for needing reading glasses.
Could haloes mean something has gone wrong?
Usually not, but new, worsening or severe glare and haloes, especially with sudden floaters, flashes of light, a curtain or shadow over your vision, or a drop in vision, need prompt review, as these can signal a problem such as retinal detachment or swelling. Mild, settling glare in the first weeks is expected; a sudden change is not. When in doubt, get it checked quickly.
Can later clouding cause glare again, months after surgery?
Yes. Months to years later, the capsule behind the lens can cloud, called posterior capsule opacification, which can bring back glare, haze and blur. It is not the cataract coming back and is fixed in minutes with a painless YAG laser treatment in clinic. If glare and blur return well after a clear recovery, mention it, as this is a common and easily treated cause.
Written by Pauline Driscoll. Medically reviewed by Mr Lewis Pereira, FRCOphth.
Our guides are written from personal experience and reviewed by a qualified clinician for accuracy. Read our editorial policy.
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