Frank J. Weinstock, MD, FACS
Dr. Weinstock is a board-certified ophthalmologist. He practices general ophthalmology in Canton, Ohio, with a special interest in contact lenses. He holds faculty positions of Professor of Ophthalmology at the Northeastern Ohio Colleges of Medicine and Affiliate Clinical Professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science at Florida Atlantic University.
Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS
Andrew A. Dahl, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Dr. Dahl's educational background includes a BA with Honors and Distinction from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, and an MD from Cornell University, where he was selected for Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. He had an internal medical internship at the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center.
- Trachoma facts
- What is trachoma? Is trachoma contagious?
- How does trachoma manifest itself?
- What is the cause of trachoma?
- What are trachoma symptoms and signs?
- How is trachoma diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for trachoma?
- How long does trachoma last?
- Can trachoma be prevented?
- What is the prognosis for trachoma?
- What are complications of trachoma?
- What research is being done on trachoma?
- Patient Comments: Trachoma - Complications
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- Trachoma is a potentially blinding infectious eye disease spread by direct or indirect contact with infected individuals.
- Blindness from trachoma is preventable by screening and treatment with an antibiotic.
What is trachoma? Is trachoma contagious?
Trachoma is a contagious bacterial infection which affects the conjunctival covering of the eye, the cornea, and the eyelids. It is often associated with poverty and lack of proper hygiene. Trachoma is caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria and is essentially totally preventable and curable. It is the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world. Approximately 80 million people in the world have active trachoma. The majority of these are children. The disease is found predominantly in poor tropical or semi-tropical countries.
How does trachoma manifest itself?
Trachoma affects the eyelids and conjunctiva (outside covering) of the eye, usually with very little discomfort until later in the disease. When infected, the conjunctival covering of the eye becomes red and irritated (inflamed). Repeated infections by the trachoma bacteria are common and, unless treated, can result in scarring of the conjunctival surface of the lids. The lids become scarred and the lid margins may turn in, causing eye irritation and pain followed by scarring of the cornea by the inward-turned lashes (trichiasis), which scrape the cornea. Corneal scarring results in decreased or total loss of vision. In order to see properly, it is necessary for the cornea (front window of the eye) to remain clear.
What is the cause of trachoma?
Although trachoma is caused by a small parasitic bacteria, poor sanitation, unclean water supply, and reduced personal and community hygiene allow the bacteria to infect and reinfect eyes of individuals living in endemic areas. Prevention of vision loss requires adequate, prompt treatment, in addition to education and teaching proper hygiene to the parents and children.
Trachoma is an ancient disease and was once prevalent throughout the world except in colder climates. It has been eliminated in more advanced countries but is still endemic in about 55 third-world nations, primarily in Africa and the Middle East. Approximately 10 million people have significant visual loss from the corneal scarring caused by trachoma.
Trachoma is spread by direct or indirect contact with eye, nose, or throat secretions of an individual with trachoma, or indirectly via flies or other insects carrying those secretions on their legs or bodies. Common denominators are poor hygiene, unsanitary water supplies, and shared towels. It is most common in small children (3-5 years of age) who spread it to their siblings, mothers, and playmates. Within endemic areas, the incidence of the infection is highly variable from village to village and concentrates in families or other pockets.
Throughout the entire world, Chlamydia trachomatis also causes sexually transmitted disease and conjunctivitis of the newborn, transmitted from the mother during the birth process.
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