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Cloudy or dim vision, or glare and halos at night

Also called: Cataracts, cloudy vision, glare, halos

Cloudy or dim vision, or glare and halos around lights at night, is the classic sign of cataracts, a clouding of the eye's lens that's very common with age. Cataract surgery is safe and effective. Sudden halos with eye pain and nausea can be acute glaucoma, an emergency.

Common causesCataracts, dry eye, outdated glasses, corneal problems
Usually serious?Usually not urgent
Get checked ifIt affects daily life; urgently if sudden with pain
If you think it's an emergency, call 911.Thinking about suicide? Call or text 988.

Overview

Cataracts develop slowly, making vision blurry, dim, or yellowed, with glare from headlights and sunlight, halos around lights, and frequent glasses changes. They're common after 60 and with diabetes, smoking, steroids, and sun exposure.

Dry eye, corneal swelling, and refractive changes can also cause glare. Sudden halos with eye pain, redness, headache, and nausea may be acute angle-closure glaucoma.

When to get medical care

Call 911Sudden eye pain with halos, blurred vision, headache, and nausea or vomiting.
Get care todaySudden vision loss or sudden cloudy vision. Eye pain or redness with vision change.
See a doctor soonCloudy or dim vision that's getting worse. Trouble driving at night or reading. Frequent glasses changes. Glare that affects daily life.

Causes

Common causes include cataracts, dry eye, and outdated glasses. Other causes include corneal swelling (Fuchs dystrophy), after-cataract clouding, diabetes-related eye changes, and acute glaucoma.

OwieClear has pages on 2 conditions that can cause cloudy or dim vision, or glare and halos at night. Each shows how soon to get care.

Common causes

What you can do at home

  • Get an eye exam.
  • Use brighter lighting for reading.
  • Wear sunglasses and a hat outdoors.
  • Limit night driving if glare is bad.
  • Don't smoke, and control diabetes.

Medicines

Early on, new glasses and better lighting help. Cataract surgery replaces the cloudy lens with a clear artificial one when vision affects daily life.

At the doctor

The eye doctor will look at your lens and retina.

Questions you may be asked

  • How long vision has been changing
  • Glare or halos
  • Trouble with driving or reading
  • Diabetes, steroids, or eye injury

The exam

A full eye exam with dilation and a slit lamp.

Tests

  • Vision and glare testing

Prevention

You can slow cataracts.

  • Wear sunglasses
  • Don't smoke
  • Control diabetes
  • Get regular eye exams

Check your symptoms

Most symptoms have more than one possible cause. The symptom checker looks at all of your symptoms together, plus your age, and shows how soon to get care.

Start the symptom checker

Sources

Last updated 2026-11-13.