RANTUOL, Ill. (WCIA) — There are new treatments to help patients with glaucoma, and they’re just in time. The disease is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.

It’s a condition that damages the fibers in the optic nerve, which is how your brain gets pictures from your eyes. The damage comes from too much pressure in your eyes.

One eye doctor in Rantoul said there is no way to regain nerve fibers once they’re lost. Instead, the goal of treatment is to slow down the death of them. The first option is usually nightly eye drops which should be enough, but there are surgeries available if drops don’t work.

“Age is a big risk factor, so over the age of 60 is a risk factor for glaucoma. Family history plays a strong risk factor into who is at risk,” said Optometrist Ryan Witt. “So, if your immediate relatives have glaucoma, make sure that you’re getting screened. Race plays a role into that, and there’s a variety of other health conditions that have a little bit of an impact on our glaucoma risk.”

Witt said there is no one way to prevent glaucoma, but living a generally healthy lifestyle is the best way because it helps keep your eyes healthy as a whole.

He also said you should get comprehensive eye exams to catch the symptoms early. Those can be high eye pressure, blurred vision or even headaches.