According to the Mayo Clinic, trachoma is an infection that leads to blindness and is considered the leading bacterial cause of blindness worldwide. The trachoma bacteria can be contracted through eye, nose or throat secretions and can be spread from person-to-person, as indicated by the Mayo Clinic. The bacterial infection has a positive prognosis when treated early.
Antibiotics
When identified early, trachoma can be treated successfully with antibiotics. Tetracycline or azithromycin are two commonly used antibiotics that come in an eye ointment or oral method of application, as indicated by the Mayo Clinic. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) also suggests erythromycin and doxycycline as other possible antibiotic treatment options for trachoma.
Eyelid Rotation Surgery
When trachoma goes untreated, it can lead to painful eyelid deformity. Eyelashes may become ingrown, and scarring can result on the eyelids from repeated infection. Surgery may be required to treat this condition. The Mayo Clinic reports that an eyelid rotation surgery may be performed to move the eyelashes away from the cornea to restore vision.
Corneal Transplant
In very serious cases of trachoma, the cornea may become clouded to the point that vision is severely impaired. The inflammation of the eyes and the eyelid from other trachoma symptoms leads to the increased cloudiness. A cornea transplant is one option to rectify the situation, but the Mayo Clinic reports that the result is not always helpful.
Member Comments