Is this something serious?

[Jamesnewick]

I'm 20, last had an eye exam a month ago - it was ''all healthy''. I worry alot, last night I had a extreme panick attack because I noticed around 'halegon lights' (the extremely bright ones used at carparks etc), as I got close and at a specific angle, I could faintly see a rainbow halo around them. But once I moved even a foot away, it disappeared and turned into ordinary white light. This ONLY happens on these lights, I'm not sure if it's the lights themselves causing it ... or my eyes. I tested countless different types of lights at all different angles, NONE have this affect. This rainbow is exactly symmetrical in both eyes, I have no loss of vision and no pain whatsoever. Can anyone explain, please.

[JohnHaganMD]

In a healthy eye with correct glasses or contact lens or if the eye does not need glasses, these are normal observations that come from the eye being an imperfect optical system. All optical systems have some imperfections that generate these types of observations. The name for them are optical aberrations. Move on and enjoy the Holidays.

[Jamesnewick]

Thankyou, you're a life saver. just to confirm I don't need to worry? I do not wear glasses/contacts by the way and never have.

[JohnHaganMD]

There is a lot to worry about in the world but your problem you posted is not one of them.

[Jamesnewick]

Hi John, I hate to keep wasting your time but as you know I'm a hypochondriac, I just can't get this 'problem' out of my mind.

Today I was waiting in a car park after work and noticed if I pinch my fingers together to make a small slit and then look at the very bright glare from sunlight coming off cars, once again in a precise spot I can make my eyes both see a rainbow halo. I trust your words and I know you have better things to do, but I can't get over this.

[JohnHaganMD]

James, you are 20 years old. You have an abnormal amount of anxiety and you have panic attacks. That is not the way to go through life.  Instead of dealing with symptoms of your anxiety like these common eye observations you should be over on the anxiety, panic attack, mental health forums.   And I say this in all sincerity you should be under the care of a psychiatrist or psychologist who help you deal with this problem. I also suggest you consider seeing a psychologist who does cognitive behavior therapy it works great for your problems.

[Jamesnewick]

Thankyou Hagan, I took your advice and have a meeting in the next couple of months to deal with anxiety regarding health. But out of curiosity to calm me until then, what causes a rainbow halo when looking through a small whole with your hand wrapped like a telescope, looking at a bright light at a certain variation/angle?

[JohnHaganMD]

Any small hole creates a refracting surface (pinhole effect) and bends light.  Light of different wave lengths bends differently why a prism breaks white light into the spectrum of colors. Also accounts for the colors of sunrise and sun set.