Is trachoma easy to cure?

In general, whether trachoma can be effectively cured depends on the timing of treatment and its standardization. When detected early and treated properly and consistently, trachoma is usually curable. However, if it progresses to the late stage with complications, complete cure becomes difficult. The detailed analysis is as follows:

In the early stages of trachoma, symptoms are mild and commonly include itching, a foreign body sensation, and slight discharge. At this point, damage to the cornea and conjunctiva is superficial. By using topical antibiotic eye drops and ointments in combination with oral antibiotics, and by adhering to treatment for 1–3 months, most patients can completely eliminate the pathogen and achieve clinical cure without significant sequelae.

If not diagnosed and treated promptly in the early stage, trachoma may recur and progress to an advanced stage, leading to complications such as entropion (inward turning of the eyelid), trichiasis (in-turned eyelashes), and corneal ulcers. At this stage, drug therapy alone has limited effectiveness, and surgical correction of eyelid deformities like entropion becomes necessary. However, vision that has already been damaged is difficult to fully restore, significantly increasing the difficulty of cure, and some patients may suffer permanent visual impairment.

For daily prevention, maintain good eye hygiene: avoid rubbing eyes with dirty hands, use personal items such as towels and basins separately, and disinfect them regularly. Avoid contact with eye secretions from individuals with trachoma, and take protective measures for the eyes when in environments with poor sanitary conditions.