Trachoma: is the end in sight?

Abstract

Trachoma is a keratoconjunctivitis caused by infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and remains the leading cause of infectious visual impairment and blindness in the developing world. Given the current understanding of this disease and modern developments in its treatment, trachoma could be potentially confined to the history books of future medical students. This article reviews the history and current understanding of trachoma as well as the treatment, control and recent advances introduced to eradicate the disease globally.

Keywords::

• blindness
• Chlamydia trachomatis
• GET 2020
• SAFE strategy
• trachoma
• trichiasis
• Vision 20:20

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.