Can trachoma cause blindness?

Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 17, 2024
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Trachoma is a chronic infectious conjunctivitis and keratitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which can lead to blindness if left untreated. After the acute phase of trachoma is cured, it may leave no scars and not affect vision. However, repeated infections can lead to scarring, and in severe cases, complications may endanger vision. Entropion and trichiasis, where eyelashes constantly rub against the cornea, can cause the cornea to become opaque and form ulcers, leading to blindness. Chlamydia trachomatis can cause epithelial keratitis, and at the ends of corneal vascular pannus, corneal infiltration can occur along with entropion and trichiasis, which in turn exacerbates the damage to the cornea, causing opacification and leading to blindness.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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How to treat trachoma stage 2?

Trachoma stage two requires treatment with antibiotic eye drops to kill the Chlamydia infecting the conjunctival tissue, thus alleviating symptoms. Commonly used eye drops include rifampicin, sodium sulfacetamide, and levofloxacin hydrochloride. Trachoma is a common eye disease caused by poor eye hygiene, such as rubbing the eyes with dirty hands, sharing personal hygiene items like basins and towels with others, or using unclean water to wash the face. It is imperative to treat the infection with medication as quickly as possible and to develop good eye hygiene habits to prevent the condition from worsening or spreading to family and friends. If trachoma is not treated promptly, it could lead to complications such as entropion, dry eye syndrome, and corneal vascularization. (Please follow medical advice regarding medication.)

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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How to eliminate trachoma follicles

Trachoma follicles need to be treated regularly with antibiotic eye drops to kill the Chlamydia trachomatis and eliminate inflammation before they can be resolved. Trachoma is a common ophthalmic disease caused by neglect of eye hygiene, such as rubbing the eyes with dirty hands, leading to the infection of the conjunctival tissues by Chlamydia trachomatis. The typical symptoms include eye congestion, redness, increased discharge, and a foreign body sensation. By using a slit lamp microscope for magnified observation, the doctor can see numerous follicles and scar formation on the inner surface of the patient's eyelid, as well as vascular pannus formation at the corneal limbus. Treatment involves using eye drops such as levofloxacin hydrochloride, rifampicin, and sulfacetamide sodium to kill the pathogen and thereby alleviate the symptoms. (Please follow medical advice regarding medication.)

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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The difference between trachoma and stye

Trachoma is a chlamydial infection, while a stye is an infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Trachoma manifests as the formation of trachoma follicles, hyperplasia, and inflammation on the inner surfaces of the eyelid and conjunctiva, with symptoms including redness, swelling, pain in the eyes, neovascularization of the cornea, and vascular pannus. A stye presents with redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the eyelid, mainly caused by inflammation. In terms of treatment, trachoma mainly uses rifampin eye drops; styes are treated with levofloxacin eye drops, and erythromycin or tobramycin ointment at night, with no hot compresses applied. Typically, a stye can heal within about a week, whereas trachoma requires a longer treatment period, and it is important to rest and undergo regular check-ups. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a physician)

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Trachoma papillary hyperplasia refers to the growth of papillary formations on the conjunctiva due to trachoma.

Trachoma papillary hyperplasia refers to the appearance of a large number of conjunctival papillae on the inner surface of the eyelid in patients with trachoma, which is one of the typical manifestations of inflammation. Trachoma is a common eye disease, caused by Chlamydia infection of the conjunctival tissue, and is greatly related to the patient's lack of eye hygiene and rubbing the eyes with dirty hands. Patients with trachoma may experience eye congestion, redness, the presence of follicles and papillary hyperplasia, as well as the formation of scar tissue on the inner surface of the eyelid. Timely treatment is necessary, otherwise the condition may gradually worsen, potentially leading to complications such as upper eyelid ptosis, entropion, and tear duct obstruction. For treatment, eye drops such as Rifampicin, Sodium Sulfacetamide, and Levofloxacin can be used to eliminate the infection.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
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Can trachoma wear colored contact lenses?

The eyes themselves already have trachoma, which is one of the contraindications for wearing contact lenses. Therefore, based on the current health condition of the eyes, it is not suitable to fit contact lenses. Since the eyes already have an infectious disease, wearing cosmetic contacts, which contact the cornea, can easily lead to the occurrence of keratitis and worsen the inflammation. It is necessary to visit a professional ophthalmologist for examination and treatment of the trachoma. After the treatment is completed, then consider the issue of fitting contact lenses.