Could you be losing your sight? Do you know the signs of sight loss?

One out of every 30 Americans over the age of 40 is legally blind. Many conditions leading to blindness can be corrected if they are caught in time, but you need regular visits with your optometrist to catch them. Here are five signs of sight loss from your Doctor of Optometry in Wilmette, IL, Dr. Patrick Takata at New Vision Optical.

You start seeing halos around lights.

Seeing halos or rainbows around bright lights is one of the most common signs of sight loss. This can be one of the earlier symptoms of both glaucoma and cataracts.

You see what looks like a curtain falling over one eye.

This is a sign you need to be seen by your eye doctor immediately. It can be a symptom of detached retina.

You start seeing floaters or "spider webs."

Black floaters, whether it's just a few or so many that they clog your field of vision, are usually the result of tiny broken blood vessels in your retina. Floaters are a common complication of diabetic retinopathy and should always be checked out by your eye doctor.

You start having double vision.

In children, double vision isn't one of the most common signs of sight loss. It's more of a sign that crossed eyes or lazy eye needs correction. However, in adults, it can be a sign of advanced diseases of the lens of your eye or injury to your brain.

You have severe eye pain.

Severe eye pain is a medical emergency. Don't put off contacting your optometrist, even if it's a weekend night. Sometimes swift intervention is necessary to save your sight.

Other, less common signs of sight loss, include changes in the color of your eyes, the appearance of white patches in your pupil, red eyes, and itching and/or burning eyes.

Don't wait until you have signs of sight loss to get a checkup with your Doctor of Optometry.

The best way to prevent blindness is to have your eyes examined every year, or more often if you have a chronic condition. Request your appointment with Dr. Takata online today or call us at (847) 230-4796. The offices of New Vision Optical Wilmette are located at 120 Skokie Blvd, Wilmette, IL, 60091.