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Trachoma, a major cause of blindness in poor and remote rural areas of Africa and South Asia, is much more common in women than in men. In fact women make up over 80% of people suffering from trichiasis (the later stage of the disease) in areas where it is prevalent.

Why?

• Women and older girls tend to be the main childcare providers and, as such, are far more prone to catch it from young children, the main pool of infection in the community.
• A woman’s likelihood to have a trichiasis operation is affected by the fact that her husband must give permission.

Lasoi's story

Forty-year-old Lasoi Marangwai from Koora village in Kenya had been repeatedly suffering from trachoma since she was a child. This eventually developed into trichiasis, a painful and potentially blinding condition where in-turned eyelashes scratch the eyeball.

Lasoi was screened by a team supported by Sightsavers who were visiting her village, and advised she needed surgery. Luckily for her the condition had been caught in time and her sight could be restored. The surgery can be done at a local health clinic or even at home, meaning that people like Lasoi don’t have to travel huge distances to seek treatment. The operation involves removing the parts of the eyelid which are being pulled inwards, causing the lashes to touch the eye, so the eyelids turn back out again.

For some women the loss of their vision can make it difficult to care for themselves and their family. And the later stage of the disease is so intensely painful that women like Lasoi sometimes resort to plucking out their eyelashes with tweezers. The pain relief is short-lived however as the eyelashes always grow back stronger than before, bringing even greater discomfort.

Before the operation Lasoi was finding it difficult to cook and look after her seven children, and they had to drop out of school to help her. She was also struggling to do her beadwork, which boosted her income. Following the operation her life has returned again, her children are back at school and she can do her beadwork and look after her family as before.