BACKGROUND Until the burden of active trachoma is reduced for a sustained period, trachomatous trichiasis (TT) will remain one of the major causes of blindness in Ethiopia. The magnitude of trichiasis as well as knowledge, attitude and practice of people with this condition in Alaba District is not known. OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis in the community and eval...

BACKGROUND Trachomatous trichiasis can cause corneal damage and visual impairment. WHO recommends surgery for all cases. However, in many regions surgical provision is inadequate and patients frequently decline. Self-epilation is common and was associated with comparable outcomes to surgery in nonrandomised studies for minor trichiasis (<six lashes touching eye). This trial investigated whether...

AIM Untreated trichiasis can lead to corneal opacity. Surgery to prevent the eyelashes from rubbing against the cornea is available, but many individuals with trichiasis never undergo the operation. This study estimates the cost of illness of untreated trichiasis and the willingness to pay for surgery and compares them with the actual cost of providing surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS The cost ...

PURPOSE Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading infectious cause of blindness. The goal of the current study was to search for biomarkers associated with C. trachomatis-induced ocular pathologies. METHODS We used a whole genome scale proteome array to systematically profile antigen specificities of antibody responses to C. trachomatis infection in individuals from trachoma-endemic communities wi...

Background: Trachomatous trichiasis (TT) may lead to disability, impeding productive activities, resulting in loss of income. This study was conducted to determine if trichiasis surgery improves participation in productive and leisure activities, and ability to perform activities without difficulty or assistance. Methods: We recruited 1000 adults with trichiasis (cases) and 200 comparison parti...

PURPOSE To evaluate outcomes of lid margin split with cryotherapy to the anterior lid lamella for treating trichiasis. METHODS This prospective study included 20 eyelids of ten patients with trichiasis who were treated with lid margin split and cryotherapy. All patients were followed up for 6 months. RESULTS Eighteen eyelids (90%) were successfully treated, and two eyelids (10%) developed r...

BACKGROUND Trichiasis surgery is believed to reduce the risk of losing vision from trachoma. There are limited data on the long term outcome of surgery and its effect on vision and corneal opacification. Similarly, the determinants of failure are not well understood. METHODS A cohort of people in the Gambia who had undergone surgery for trachomatous trichiasis 3-4 years earlier was re-assesse...

Three surgeons operated on upper eye lids of northern Omani villagers for trichiasis due to trachoma using a standardised protocol. The lids were graded as minor trichiasis, five or fewer lashes; major trichiasis, six or more lashes; and lid closure defect. Operative success was defined as no lash/eyeball contact and complete gentle lid closure. One hundred and sixty five lids with major trichi...

BACKGROUND/AIM Trachomatous trichiasis frequently returns following surgery. Several factors may promote recurrence: preoperative disease severity, surgeon ability, surgical procedure, healing responses, and infection. This study investigates whether enhanced control of infection, both of Chlamydia trachomatis and other bacteria, with azithromycin can improve surgical outcome in a trachoma cont...

OBJECTIVE To measure limitations in the daily activities of village life associated with having trichiasis for individuals with and without visual acuity loss. METHODS Men and women 40 years and older in 6 randomly chosen rural villages in the Kongwa district of Tanzania had visual acuity measured and were examined by an ophthalmologist. Subjects indicated the degree of difficulty with daily ...