Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. Without treatment, it can cause permanent sight loss.
Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. Without treatment, it can cause permanent sight loss.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, former trachoma patient
The best part of my job is when I reach someone with trichiasis and I can save their sight.
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.
Page last reviewed: November 2024
Next review due: November 2027
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