Treatment for Trachoma

Trachoma is an eye infection caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. In the early stages of infection, it bears a striking resemblance to pink eye, as the eye becomes inflamed and begin to weep. If left untreated, trachoma can lead to numerous problems, including blindness. However, if caught early, trachoma is easily treated with antibiotics.

Tetracycline Eye Ointment

• Tetracycline eye ointment is the most common beginning treatment for trachoma. Usually in a cream form, the ointment is applied to the eye area for a number of days until the infection disappears.

Oral Azithromycin

• Oral azithromycin, or Zithromax, is an easy and popular alternative to the tetracycline eye ointment. Azithromycin has often proved more effective than other antibiotics in treating trachoma. However, due to the expense of the drug, alternatives are often recommended.

Other Antibiotics

• Other antibiotics are sometimes prescribed for trachoma, including erythromycin and doxycycline, among others. Antibiotics used for treatment of trachoma are topical ointments or oral prescriptions.

Bilamellar Tarsal Rotation

• Bilamellar tarsal rotation is only used to treat trachoma in severe cases. In the later stages of trachoma, the eyelid can become so scarred that the eyelashes begin to turn in. When this occurs, bilamellas tarsal rotation surgery is performed. During surgery, doctors cut and rotate the eyelid, allowing it to open and close correctly again. The surgery typically takes about 15 minutes and has a high success rate.

Corneal Transplants

• In severe cases of trachoma, corneal transplants may be recommended to prevent blindness later in life. Corneal transplants can be expensive and take the patient sometime to recover from. For these reasons and others, corneal transplants are not often recommended.