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Trachoma: causes, symptoms and treatment

Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. Without treatment, it can cause permanent sight loss.

Six-year-old Happy often kept her eyes closed all day to ease the pain of advanced trachoma. Read Happy’s story

What is trachoma?

Trachoma is an infectious eye disease that begins as a bacterial infection. At first, the infection can be easily treated. But repeated infections will lead to advanced trachoma, which can cause intense pain and lead to blindness.

Trachoma is one of a group of conditions known as neglected tropical diseases.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 103 million people worldwide are at risk of going blind from trachoma, with the highest number of cases worldwide found in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan. The disease is more likely to affect people in rural areas, where there is limited access to health care.

Learn more about the history of trachoma

Did you know these five things about trachoma? Watch our animation to find out more about the disease.

What causes trachoma?

The disease is caused by the bacteria known as ‘chlamydia trachomatis’. It thrives in places with water shortages, poor sanitation and infestations of flies.

Trachoma spreads through contact with flies that carry the bacteria, or via hands, clothes or bedding that have been in contact with an infected person.

Women are more likely to be affected by trachoma, because their caregiving role means they often have close contact with children with the eye infection. Globally, women are 1.8 times more likely than men to be blinded by the disease.

Mohamed looks up with his eyes open while his eyes are being examined

“When I open and close my eyes, I can see hair scratching them.”

Read Mohamed’s story

What are the symptoms of trachoma?

Discharge from the eyes

A common sign that a person is suffering from trachoma is eyes that are moist with discharge such as mucus or pus.

Irritated eyes

The eyes and eyelids can start to feel itchy, irritated and swollen, similar to the first symptoms of conjunctivitis.

Redness

The eyes can also look red. If the trachoma infection is not treated early, it can lead to trichiasis, an advanced form of the disease.

What is trichiasis?

Trichiasis is an eye condition caused by repeated trachoma infections, which irritate the eye and cause scar tissue to build up inside the eyelid. The upper eyelids tend to be most affected by trachoma. Trichiasis makes the eyelid tight and pulls the eyelashes inwards, causing them to angle towards the eye, instead of away from it.

The eyelashes then scrape painfully against the eyeball, which eventually causes permanent damage, leading to blindness.

People with trichiasis often say it feels like having sand in their eyes. They may resort to pulling out their eyelashes to ease the pain.

Trichiasis is sometimes called ‘advanced trachoma’, as it can happen after repeated infections.

Treating trachoma and trichiasis

An eye health worker holding some pink tablets.

Antibiotics to treat trachoma

Antibiotic tablets are essential for treating the infection. They are provided through community health initiatives and distributed by trained local volunteers. We support governments to deliver this essential medication.

Four surgeons operate on Mohamed's eyes.

Surgery for trichiasis

Surgery is crucial for people with trichiasis, the advanced stage of trachoma. An operation stops the eyelid turning inwards and prevents the eyelashes from scratching the eyeball, reducing pain and preventing blindness.

Preventing trachoma and treating trichiasis

The World Health Organization’s SAFE strategy aims to stop the spread of trachoma and treat people with the advanced stage of the disease. The acronym describes the four methods used to control the disease.

  • Surgery: an operation can stop the eyelashes from rubbing against the eyeball and help to prevent blindness or further sight loss.
  • Antibiotics: giving antibiotics to communities helps to treat the infection and reduce its spread. This can be repeated annually for up to five years or more, depending on the level of infection within a community.
  • Facial cleanliness: it’s vital to educate communities about the importance of face washing and maintaining good hygiene, which helps to prevent the disease from being passed from person to person.
  • Environmental improvements: ensuring people have clean water and sanitation reduces their chances of being exposed to the infection, and helps to avoid the conditions that allow flies to breed.

We’re working with communities to improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene, known as WASH, and teaching children about the importance of hygiene in beating neglected tropical diseases.

Achiwa weaving outside her home in Malawi after her successful trachoma operation.

“My eyes hurt and felt like they had sand in them. Someone said I should buy razor blades to cut my eyelashes.”

Achiwa, former trachoma patient

Samson Lokele in Kenya.
Samson Lokele in Kenya.

“The best part of my job is when I reach someone with trichiasis and I can save their sight.”

Samson, trachoma surgeon in Kenya. Read his story

How you can help

Our aim is to eliminate trachoma in the countries where we work, and this goal is now closer than ever.

We’ve already supported six countries to eliminate the disease. Yet there are still more than 39 countries that count trachoma as a public health problem. Our Accelerate programme aims to support at least 15 countries to eliminate trachoma by 2027.

Without action, millions of people face the pain and agony of advanced trachoma. It can limit a child’s independence and access to education, and lead to a cycle of poverty as people are unable to work and provide for their families.

But with your support, our life-changing charity work can reach even more people with medication to prevent the disease from spreading, and provide operations for those at risk of blindness.

Find out about other diseases we treat

Neglected tropical diseases

Page last reviewed: November 2024
Next review due: November 2027
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You can help save someone’s sight

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Every year, your donations could help protect 40 families against trachoma.

Every year, your donations could help treat 68 people infected with trachoma.

Every year, your donations could help pay for an operation for a patient with advanced trachoma.

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Your donation could help protect more than 20 families against trachoma.

Your donations could help treat 45 people infected with trachoma.

Your donations could help protect an entire community against trachoma.

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We're sorry, but the minimum donation we can take is £2
We're sorry, but we cannot process a donation of this size online. Please contact us on [email protected] for assistance donating over £10,000