What is trachoma?
Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, and is part of a group of conditions known as neglected tropical diseases (often referred to as NTDs).
The End is in Sight: our campaign to eliminate trachoma
About the campaignTrachoma starts off as a bacterial infection that’s a bit like conjunctivitis, and can be easily treated.
But if it’s not, over time it causes scarring to the eyelid that pulls the eyelashes inward, so with every blink they scrape against the eye. This advanced form of trachoma is called trichiasis, and the pain can be so intense that many people resort to pulling out their eyelashes to reduce the agony of blinking. Over time, if it’s not treated, trichiasis can lead to blindness.
What causes trachoma?
The disease thrives where there are water shortages, poor sanitation and infestations of flies. It’s caused by repeated infection with bacteria known as ‘chlamydia trachomatis’, and it spreads through contact with infected flies and via hands, clothes or bedding that have been in contact with an infected person.
The agony and disability of blinding trachoma can lead to a cycle of poverty, limiting many people’s access to health services, education and employment.
Source: World Health Organization
What are the symptoms of trachoma?
The most common signs that a person is suffering from trachoma include:
- Discharge from the eyes
- Irritated eyes
- Redness
Because the infection spreads via hands, clothes and bedding, it disproportionately affects women and children: globally women are almost two (1.8) times more likely than men to be blinded by the disease. If trachoma is not treated, it can lead to trichiasis.
What is trichiasis?
Trichiasis, sometimes called advanced trachoma, is when the eyes get inflamed after repeated trachoma infections. Scar tissue builds up on the inside of the eyelid, making the eyelid tight and pulling the eyelashes inwards. When the eyelashes rub the cornea, it causes immense pain and can lead to blindness.
Did you know?
Charles Dickens‘ novel Nicholas Nickleby was inspired by a 19th-century boarding school devastated by trachoma.
The history of trachomaHow is trachoma treated?
Antibiotics
Antibiotic tablets, donated by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, are used to treat the infection. Trachoma treatment is usually repeated annually for up to five years.
Trichiasis surgery
Advanced trachoma, known as trichiasis, can cause the eyelashes to turn inwards. An operation stops the eyelashes rubbing against the eyeball, and can stop people from going blind.
Cleanliness and hygiene
Communities are encouraged to change behaviour that can put them at risk of contracting trachoma, and are taught about the importance of face washing, hygiene and sanitation.
Want to learn more about the history of trachoma?
Read our trachoma timelineOur work to treat trachoma
Our aim is to eliminate trachoma in the countries where we work, and this goal is now closer than ever.
In June 2018, Ghana became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate the disease. Yet there are still 44 countries that count trachoma as a public health problem, , where people are at risk of being permanently blinded by trichiasis.
We help to control the impact and spread of trachoma by implementing the World Health Organization’s SAFE strategy: the acronym describes the four methods used to control the disease.
Trachoma prevention: the SAFE strategy
- Surgery: to stop eyelashes from rubbing against the eyeball and helping to halt the cycle of repeated infection that can lead to blindness.
- Antibiotics: medication, distributed via mass drug administration, treats the trachoma infection and reduces the spread of the disease. It is usually repeated annually for up to five years.
- Facial cleanliness: teaching local communities the importance of face washing, and encouraging good hygiene to prevent the infection being spread.
- Environmental improvements: to improve access to water and sanitation to reduce exposure and re-infection, and eliminate conditions in which flies breed.
The End is in Sight: our campaign to eliminate trachoma
We’re on a mission to stamp out the disease by 2025, but we need your help to banish it for good.
About our campaignHow we’re fighting trachoma
The Accelerate trachoma elimination programme
Accelerate aims to eliminate trachoma in at least nine countries and speed up progress in several others by 2023.
Ascend: fighting disease in West and Central Africa
This three-year programme is the largest multiple neglected tropical disease (NTD) programme Sightsavers has supported to date. It aims to protect millions of people from NTDs in 13 countries.
Super School of Five
This project, in Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia, introduces five superhero cartoon characters to encourage school children to wash their hands and face.
The Commonwealth Fund
This programme funded surgery, treatment distribution and improved hygiene and sanitation in 10 Commonwealth countries where trachoma is endemic.
The Global Trachoma Mapping Project
As the largest infectious disease survey ever undertaken, the GTMP gathered valuable data about the world’s trachoma-endemic areas using smartphones.
SAFE: trachoma control
The SAFE programme, which ended in 2019, aimed to control the spread of blinding trachoma via surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvements.
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