Diagnosis
Your healthcare professional can diagnose trachoma through a physical examination or by sending a sample of bacteria from your eyes to a laboratory for testing. But lab tests aren't always available in places where trachoma is common.
Treatment
Trachoma treatment options depend on the stage of the disease.
Medicines
In the early stages of trachoma, treatment with antibiotics alone may be enough to stop the infection. Your healthcare professional may prescribe tetracycline eye ointment or oral azithromycin (Zithromax).
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends giving antibiotics to an entire community when more than 5% of children have been affected by trachoma. The goal of this guideline is to treat anyone exposed to trachoma and reduce its spread.
Surgery
Treatment of later stages of trachoma, including painful eyelid issues, may require surgery.
In eyelid rotation surgery, the surgeon makes a cut in your scarred lid and rotates your eyelashes away from your cornea. The procedure limits more corneal scarring and may help prevent further loss of vision.
If your cornea has become clouded enough to seriously harm your vision, cornea transplant may be an option that could improve vision.
You may have a procedure to remove eyelashes in some cases. This procedure, known as eyelash epilation, may need to be done repeatedly.
Preparing for your appointment
You're likely to start by seeing someone on your primary healthcare team if you or your child has symptoms of trachoma. Or you may be referred immediately to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist). When you make the appointment, ask if you need to do anything in the meantime, such as keeping your child home from school or child care.
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
What you can do
Before your appointment make a list of:
- Symptoms of the person seeking treatment, including any details about changes in vision.
- Key personal information, such as recent travel, use of new makeup products, and any change in contacts or glasses.
- All medicines and any vitamins or supplements taken by the person seeking treatment.
- Questions to ask your healthcare professional.
For eye irritation, some basic questions to ask include:
- What's the most likely cause of these symptoms?
- Other than the most likely cause, what are other possible causes for these symptoms?
- What kinds of tests are needed?
- Is the condition likely temporary or does it last a long time?
- What is the best course of action?
- Will this condition cause any long-term complications?
- Should my child or I follow any restrictions, such as staying home from school or work?
- Should I see a specialist?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
- Do you have any brochures or other printed material for me? What websites do you recommend visiting?
What to expect from your doctor
You're likely to be asked a number of questions, such as:
- Have you ever had a similar issue?
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- How severe are your symptoms? Do they seem to be getting worse?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- Is anyone else in your household having similar symptoms?
- Have you been treating your symptoms with any medicines or eye drops?
What you can do in the meantime
While waiting for your appointment, practice good hygiene to reduce the possibility of spreading your condition. Follow these steps:
- Don't touch your eyes without first washing your hands.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
- Change your towel and washcloth daily, and don't share them with others.
- Change your pillowcase often.
- Discard eye cosmetics, particularly mascara.
- Don't use anyone else's eye cosmetics or personal eye care items.
- Stop wearing contact lenses until your eyes have been evaluated. Then follow instructions on proper contact lens care.
- If your child is infected, have the child avoid close contact with other children.