PURPOSE Trachoma control programs are underway in endemic regions worldwide. They are based on the SAFE strategy (Surgery for trichiasis, Antibiotic distribution, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement). Although much is known about the effect of community-wide treatment with antibiotics on the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, the impact of the SAFE strategy on severe ocular dise...

AIM To determine the magnitude and causes of low vision and blindness in the Gurage zone, central Ethiopia. METHODS A cross sectional study using a multistage cluster sampling technique was used to identify the study subjects. Visual acuity was recorded for all adults 40 years and older. Subjects who had a visual acuity of <6/18 were examined by an ophthalmologist to determine the cause of lo...

PURPOSE Cicatricial pemphigoid is a rare chronic autoimmune disease, characterized by progressive alterations on the skin and mucous membranes. Ocular lesions consists of chronic conjunctivitis, progressive subepithelial fibrosis on the conjunctival fornix together with symblepharon formation, obstruction of the Meibomian ducts, sicca syndrome, and occasionally, entropion associated with conseq...

The distribution of trachoma in Nigeria is spatially heterogeneous, with large-scale trends observed across the country and more local variation within areas. Relative contributions of individual and cluster-level risk factors to the geographic distribution of disease remain largely unknown. The primary aim of this analysis is to assess the relationship between climatic factors and trachomatous...

PURPOSE To assess whether non-chlamydial bacterial infection is associated with trachomatous scarring in adults. METHODS This was a case-control study of 360 cases with trachomatous scarring but without trichiasis, and 360 controls without scarring. All participants underwent clinical examination, and a swab was taken from the inferior conjunctival fornix. Samples were inoculated onto blood a...

Worldwide, trachoma has blinded about 1.2 million people and resulted in visual impairment in a further 1 million people. It is estimated that about 230 million people live in trachoma-endemic areas.1 Trachoma elimination programmes use the SAFE strategy: Surgery to correct trichiasis, Antibiotic distribution to treat and prevent chlamydial infection, and Facial cleanliness and Environmental im...

Podoconiosis, trachomatous trichiasis and cataract in northern Ethiopia: a 1 comparative cross sectional study 2 3 Authors 4 Helen Burn1*, Sintayehu Aweke2¶, Tariku Wondie2¶, Esmael Habtamu2,3, Kebede Deribe1,4, Saul 5 Rajak5,3, Stephen Bremner6, Gail Davey1. 6 7 Affiliations 8 1. Wellcome Trust Brighton and Sussex Centre for Global Health Research, Brighton and Sussex Medical 9 School, Brighto...