Trachoma is a contagious eye infection that can slowly damage the inner eyelid and the surface of the eye. It starts with mild irritation and, over years, can cause scarring that turns eyelashes inward. When eyelashes rub the eye, vision can be lost. This guide tells you what to spot, how it spreads, and simple steps to prevent and treat it.
Trachoma spreads through direct contact with eye or nose discharge from an infected person, shared towels, and flies that land on faces. Children are most likely to catch it and then pass it to siblings and caregivers. Crowded living conditions, limited access to clean water, and poor sanitation all raise the risk. It’s common in hot, dry regions where hygiene is harder to maintain.
Not every red eye is trachoma. Early signs mimic common conjunctivitis: watery or sticky discharge, redness, and eye irritation. The difference to watch for is repeated or chronic symptoms in children and the appearance of small bumps or scarring on the inside of the eyelid when examined by a clinician.
Good face hygiene is the simplest, most effective step. Wash children’s faces daily, clean away eye discharge, and avoid sharing towels or pillows. Keeping flies away from sleeping and eating areas helps, too. If your community lacks clean water, support efforts that improve water access and sanitation—those changes cut trachoma risk a lot.
At a community level, public health programs use the WHO SAFE strategy: Surgery for advanced cases, Antibiotics to clear infection, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvements like clean water and sanitation. Mass drug administration of oral azithromycin is used in high‑risk areas to reduce infection in whole communities.
If you or a child has persistent red eyes, sticky discharge, or a feeling that something is rubbing the eye, see a health worker. A trained clinician can check the eyelid for follicles or scarring and decide on antibiotics or referral. For late-stage disease where eyelashes turn inward (trichiasis), minor eyelid surgery prevents further damage to the cornea and protects vision.
Treatment options include single-dose oral azithromycin in many public health programs, or topical tetracycline eye ointment for personal treatment when appropriate. Never self-prescribe antibiotics; a health worker should guide the right choice and dose.
Trachoma is preventable and, with the right public health measures, eliminable. Small daily habits—clean faces, clean water, fewer flies—make a big difference. If you live or work in a place where trachoma is known to occur, encourage local screening and support basic sanitation efforts to protect children’s sight.
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