A simple course of antibiotics can stop the pain

Talla is just five. He has trachoma, a painful eye disease which can lead to a lifetime of blindness. It is highly contagious and can easily be carried and spread by fingers and on clothing, so every wipe of his eyes takes Talla closer to blindness.

Each infection causes scarring on the inside of the eyelids. This scarring starts to pull the eyelashes inwards, meaning they scrape painfully over the eyeball. This results in damage to the cornea. Many people resort to plucking out their eyelashes with tweezers to relieve themselves of the agony, but they always grow back stronger than before.

You can help

Trachoma can be treated in the early stages with a simple antibiotic to clear up the infection. But in some of the world’s poorest countries, getting the right medication can be virtually impossible.

That’s why we’re asking for your help. A gift of £5 could protect people like Talla from trachoma, pay for five artificial lenses for use in sight saving cataract surgery, or protect 16 people from river blindness for a year.

Making a donation today will make such a difference.  To donate online, please click the 'Donate Now' button above.  If you'd prefer to donate by phone, please call our donations line on 0330 0220 440.  Thank you!