Trachoma

Trachoma (Greek: τράχωμα, ‘roughness’) is an infectious disease caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium which produces a characteristic roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. Also called granular conjunctivitis and Egyptian ophthalmia, it is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world. Globally, 41 million people have an active infection and nearly 8 million people are visually impaired as a result of this disease. It belongs to a group of diseases known as neglected tropical diseases.