Understanding Blue Haloes in Your Prescription Glasses

Have you ever experienced blue haloes or light artifacts around bright lights with your new prescription glasses? If so, you are not alone. This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors and often resolves with proper adjustments. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this issue and provide solutions to eliminate it.

Causes of Blue Haloes

Blue haloes or light artifacts around bright lights can be caused by various factors, and many of them are within the realm of normal experiences. Here are the most common causes:

Lens Coatings

Anti-Reflective AR Coating: If your glasses come with an anti-reflective (AR) coating, it may cause a halo effect around bright lights, particularly at night. This is due to the way light interacts with the coatings. The AR coating is designed to minimize reflections, but it can also lead to slight distortions of light passing through the lens.

Lens Type

Types of Lenses: Different lens materials and designs, such as progressive lenses, can cause distortions. The type of lens and its design can impact how light is dispersed, especially if the prescription is strong or the lenses are not properly aligned with your eyes. This misalignment can result in visual distortions and the appearance of light artifacts.

Adjustment Issues

Fitting Issues: If your glasses are not fitted properly, the optical center of the lenses may not align with your pupils. This misalignment can lead to visual distortions and the appearance of blue haloes. An unqualified adjustment can exacerbate the problem and make it more noticeable.

Prescription Changes

Prescription Accuracy: If your prescription has changed significantly, your eyes may need some time to adjust to the new lenses. During this adjustment period, you may experience some visual anomalies, including blue haloes. This is a temporary issue that will resolve over time as your eyes adapt to the new lenses.

Solutions for Blue Haloes

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to address and resolve the issue of blue haloes:

Visit the Optician

Lens Check: Schedule an appointment with the optician who prescribed your glasses. They can check the fit and alignment of the lenses and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that the optical center aligns with your pupils. This can eliminate or minimize the appearance of blue haloes.

Explore Lens Options

Lens Replacement: If the issue persists and is bothering you, discuss lens options with your optician. They may suggest trying a different coating or lens material that minimizes light artifacts and blue haloes. Alternative lens coatings, such as a hard-coated anti-reflective (AR) coating, may reduce the halo effect without compromising the primary purpose of the glasses.

Adjustment Period

Patience: Sometimes, it may take a few days to a few weeks to fully adjust to new lenses, especially if there is a significant change in your prescription. Patience is key during this period as your eyes adapt to the new lenses. During this time, you may still experience some visual anomalies, but they should resolve gradually.

The Role of Anti-Glare Coatings

Another reason for the appearance of blue haloes is the anti-glare coating on your prescription glasses. Some anti-glare coatings, known as second-surface AR treatments, allow a small amount of light to pass through the lens and be reflected by the coating on the back of the lens. This light is then re-reflected off the front of the lens and passed to your eye, creating a slight displacement of the light source. This effect is more noticeable when the light is approaching at an oblique angle or in bright conditions.

The anti-glare coating is designed to reduce glare by minimizing super-reflections at the surface nearest the light source. However, a small amount of light can still be re-reflected, leading to a perceived double image or a displaced light source. This secondary image can be evident in situations like oncoming car headlights, reflections of the sun off windows, or even the sky and sea on a sunny day. While this is a common phenomenon, it can be unsettling and make driving more difficult.

If you find the secondary image to be problematic, consider discussing lens options with your optician. They may recommend a different coating that minimizes this effect. For instance, a first-surface AR coating on the back of the lens can reduce the secondary image, although it may compromise the primary purpose of the anti-glare treatment.