Halo Glare Starburst

[ashjy]

Since October 2008 i have had problems with seeing halos glare starburst any time of the day but mostly the problem occurs at night.

around this time i did a very bad week with my contact lenese where cleaing solutions got in there and since i have had nothing but problems.

as a result i have not used contacts since.

i have seen 2 eye specialist 6 opticians and a private laser eye surgeon and you guessed it no one can tell me whats wrong.
i have since had a blood test (awaiting the results) - not sure what this will achieve but its worth a shot.

has anyone outhere had this problem and had it resloved?
Since i have had this probelem i have has massive headaches and im getting really stressed out!

HELP!.................PLEASE!

[mamabear909]

I have always had halos and starbursts at night, but never thought it was odd until my husband had lasik a few years ago and was describing his side effects and how much it bothered him. I really thought that it was normal, because that's how cameras pick up light.
Eye doctors have told us that my pupils must be over dialating and letting in too much light, and that there was nothing I could do about it. (His side effects were very temporary.)

I'm wondering if there is anything to help, as it has become, not only painful, but very dangerous for me to drive at night now.

[JohnHaganMD]

=

[NHussa02]

have you guys figured out any answer???

or problem persists???

[NHussa02]

I am 28 year asian male, doctor by profession, I have similar problems of glares, halos and star burst. Problem started almost 2 years ago, and graduallly has gotten worse.

Have been to ophthamologist and cornea specialist, had cornea topography, glaucoma, cataract, all sorts of workup but nothing positive, no diagnosis could me made.

I also have rapid eyelid twiching, which I do not know is whether is part of the same disease or no. Initially ophthamologist told me my symptoms are from dry eyes, I have used, systane, refresh, restasis, steroids, dry eye multivitamins, fish oil, and now I have punctal plugs. I have tried antiglare coating for glasses, nothing takes the glare, starburst and halos away. Symtpoms are worse at night.

I never had any kind of eye surgery done, used to wear contacts, but discontinued contacts 6-7 years ago.

I do not know if any one has any clue, regarding what could be the potential diagnosis. Would be greately thankful for any help.

And yes TSH level was a little on lower side, do not know if hyperthyroidism could explain symtpoms? My judgement is it will not, but any comments or help is welcome.

[Faisi424]

Any improvement?

[SvenNilsson]

Hi!

I have the exact same problem as you, I suspect structural changes in the cornea induced by polyhexanide based contact lens solution. Read this:

http://www.ejhistology.eg.net/Pdf2010/n2-2010/EJH320210.pdf

I also had a REALLY bad week with my contact lenses. I got a lens that had a manufacturing flaw and could not get it to fit well so I washed it many times and large amounts of solution got in both my eyes. Even worse, I got bacterial keratitis due to the damage that the faulty lens caused, and made the stupid mistake to wash my eyes with even more contact lens solution. There were no (apparent) warnings on the bottle to indicate that it would be dangerous, and it felt good (no stinging) when put in the eyes. My reasoning was: I get this in my eyes every day when putting the lenses in, so a little more can't possibly hurt.

All this happened just six weeks ago, but since I have seen no real improvement of the condition. The starbursts/halos are there, and although I have no real headache, the eyes are very tired and a bit sensitive to light. Sticky eyes in the morning yes, some mornings a little better than others. The corneas are sensitive, often when I move the eyeballs or blink there is a sensation of tickling or very slight dull pain.

Please keep me posted, especially if your condition improves. I guess I can live with these starbursts, only that I hate to wear glasses because of the image distortion and the constant need to clean them.

Funny thing is that there are eye drops intended for instillation directly in the eye that have the same 0.0001% polyhexanide content as the contact lens solution, e.g. Avizor moisture drops. My theory may be wrong of course... lets keep in touch. Did you anyone try steroids for a condition like this?

[paulh2011]

I have had the same symptoms I am 24 and I have had this problem for over a year now. Not a day goes by with out thinking about my eye problems its really stressing me out. I read things on the internet the makes me feel even worse about my eye problems. Could this have anything to do with Corneal abrasion? What else is there to do when you see so many eye specialist and they all tell you there is nothing wrong. Also when I look at light the starbursts can change shapes or even fade away a little bit. I do have floaters which I have had for five years now.    

[celiacruz]

I am dealing with this same problem for a month now and only 16 years old, had an mri to rule out any neurological condition, the halos and starburst have been getting worse ans worse. Has any one found any solution at all? Ive read about RGP contact lenses that are supposed to help has any one ever tried them?

[Seif]

I've just had a Lasik enhancement last week, it’s been almost ten days now since this re-treatment.
I was at the beginning very nearsighted with quit high astigmatism (spherical/-5.5 & astigmatism/ -3.5) for both eyes. After the initial lasik, eyesight regressed sporadically in two years until last has become ( Spherical -2.00 & Cylinder -0.5) for both eyes.
After 1 and two days since the enhancement was performed I checked my eyesight and it was for right ( S: -.50 & C: -.50) left (S: -.25 & C: -.50), DR has said it is too early for sure!
After 7 days I discovered that spherical has been improved with +.25 fro both eyes but the astigmatism dramatically increased fro right eye -1.75 and left -1.5!!!
My DR said this isn’t been stabilized and I need to have patience till the vision quality improved.
Is that true, astigmatism will improve?????

[ashjy]

Hi and thanks for your comments

I am due to go to hospital to check for a sinus conditions and also to rule out and tear duct problems

can I please run ove rmy symptoms again and could you please advise if you think any of the above conditons may be the cause?

* Halos and glare off lights
* My eyes are sticky in the mornigs
* Both eyes twich rapidly throughout the day
* If I go outside my eyes constantly water given me double vison when looking at street lights
* My right eye has always had a squint but has got much worse maybe due to stress or tiredness

* Sun reflection off car windscreens give a star burst effect


Hope you can advise further

Thanks

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Vit A deficiency would not cause it and that's very rare. If its been less than 2-3 months since you stopped wearing contacts it could still be irregular cornea astigmatism.

If it has been longer than that see a neuroophthalmologist. Find one at www.aao.org

JC HMD

[texas2009]

I have also been to the top docs in the US and they cannot find ANYTHING using their current tests.  I am thinking about getting a cornea transplant in one eye to see if that makes a difference.  I am at the end of my options.  Now it's down to process of elimination.

[ashjy]

I have had this corneal topography done and it shows nothing wrong.....
this problem has ruined my life my work is being affected and i have lost everything including my confidence

I need this sorted asap but no one can seem to help.

Ive heard theres a condition called Vitamin A deficiancy could this be a cause?

Please .. help

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

No its hard to determine if something is a normal age change or the very earliest cataract.  Often they look identical and you make the diagnosis of catract by asking questions like if they have trouble with glare and driving at night.

JCHMD

[texas2009]

ashjy - I have similar symptoms in that I have starbursts during the day from solar reflections and in the night from headlights and Christmas lights.  LED lights are the worst.

Dr Hagan - You mentioned "hard to diagnose cataracts" in your last post.  How are these hard to detect cataracts found?  Do they require equipment beyond the visual split lamp examination?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Halos glare and starburst usually indicate cataracts or cornea problems such as swelling (edema), disease such as keratoconus.

My suggestion would be to see the best cornea specialist around and get a corneal topography to rule k-conus or irregular astigmatism and hard to diagnosis cataract.

JCH MD