How to eliminate trachoma follicles

Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Trachoma follicles need to be treated regularly with antibiotic eye drops to kill the Chlamydia trachomatis and eliminate inflammation before they can be resolved.

Trachoma is a common ophthalmic disease caused by neglect of eye hygiene, such as rubbing the eyes with dirty hands, leading to the infection of the conjunctival tissues by Chlamydia trachomatis. The typical symptoms include eye congestion, redness, increased discharge, and a foreign body sensation. By using a slit lamp microscope for magnified observation, the doctor can see numerous follicles and scar formation on the inner surface of the patient's eyelid, as well as vascular pannus formation at the corneal limbus. Treatment involves using eye drops such as levofloxacin hydrochloride, rifampicin, and sulfacetamide sodium to kill the pathogen and thereby alleviate the symptoms.

(Please follow medical advice regarding medication.)

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Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
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Common complications of trachoma

Trachoma is a chronic infectious conjunctival keratitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It is named trachoma because it forms a rough, uneven appearance on the surface of the conjunctiva, resembling sand grains. The complications of trachoma mainly include common conditions such as entropion, trichiasis, trachomatous corneal ulcers, ptosis, trachomatous dry eye, tear duct obstruction, chronic dacryocystitis, symblepharon, and corneal opacity, among others.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
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Does trachoma need treatment?

Trachoma is a chronic infectious conjunctivitis that can lead to blindness, so once diagnosed with trachoma, it is essential to undergo both systemic and local drug treatment. Systemic treatment includes the acute phase, where severe trachoma requires systemic use of antibiotics, generally for three to four weeks. Local treatment involves the application of rifampin, penicillin, and other eye drops, and erythromycin eye ointment, etc., for at least ten to twelve weeks. If complications such as entropion, trichiasis, ptosis, symblepharon, or chronic dacryocystitis occur, surgical correction is necessary.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Trachoma papillary hyperplasia refers to the growth of papillary formations on the conjunctiva due to trachoma.

Trachoma papillary hyperplasia refers to the appearance of a large number of conjunctival papillae on the inner surface of the eyelid in patients with trachoma, which is one of the typical manifestations of inflammation. Trachoma is a common eye disease, caused by Chlamydia infection of the conjunctival tissue, and is greatly related to the patient's lack of eye hygiene and rubbing the eyes with dirty hands. Patients with trachoma may experience eye congestion, redness, the presence of follicles and papillary hyperplasia, as well as the formation of scar tissue on the inner surface of the eyelid. Timely treatment is necessary, otherwise the condition may gradually worsen, potentially leading to complications such as upper eyelid ptosis, entropion, and tear duct obstruction. For treatment, eye drops such as Rifampicin, Sodium Sulfacetamide, and Levofloxacin can be used to eliminate the infection.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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The difference between trachoma and conjunctival concretions.

Trachoma is caused by Chlamydia infection, while eye concretions are generally caused by chronic inflammation leading to lipid accumulation. When the eyelids show symptoms of trachoma, proliferative follicles and proliferative tissues in the eyelids form cobblestone changes. The concretions are white and located subconjunctivally, generally deep enough not to affect the eyes, but if superficial, they protrude into the palpebral conjunctiva and can cause certain wear to the eyes. Symptoms such as a foreign body sensation, burning sensation, and increased secretions can result from both trachoma and eye concretions. For treatment, eye drops are used for trachoma, and the eye concretions are removed under topical anesthesia, which alleviates the symptoms.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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The difference between trachoma and stye

Trachoma is a chlamydial infection, while a stye is an infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Trachoma manifests as the formation of trachoma follicles, hyperplasia, and inflammation on the inner surfaces of the eyelid and conjunctiva, with symptoms including redness, swelling, pain in the eyes, neovascularization of the cornea, and vascular pannus. A stye presents with redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the eyelid, mainly caused by inflammation. In terms of treatment, trachoma mainly uses rifampin eye drops; styes are treated with levofloxacin eye drops, and erythromycin or tobramycin ointment at night, with no hot compresses applied. Typically, a stye can heal within about a week, whereas trachoma requires a longer treatment period, and it is important to rest and undergo regular check-ups. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a physician)