Many ophthalmic diseases are infectious in nature. One of these is eye trachoma. This is a serious ailment that requires competent treatment. Otherwise, it can lead to total blindness.
Trachoma eyes - what is it?
By trachoma, it is customary to understand the disease of the conjunctival and cornea of the eye. It occurs due to tissue damage by chlamydia, has a chronic course. Most often has a bilateral shape. As a result of damage to the mucosa by pathogenic microflora in the tissues, follicles form, which after some time are transformed into scars. If untreated, the disease quickly spreads to the conjunctiva of cartilage, sclera and cornea. As a result, total blindness sets in.
The first description of eye trachoma was presented in 1907. In the following decades, this pathology was diagnosed in patients visiting an ophthalmologist quite often. Today it is detected much less often and mainly in the regions of central Africa, but it requires high-quality treatment. Affected by small children. Complications are most often observed in elderly patients.
Main reasons
The causative agent of the disease is chlamydia. This parasite lives in epithelial cells. It causes an infectious process in various organs, including the mucous membrane of the eyes. Contagiousness is quite high. The population is 100% susceptible to trachoma, and children are most sensitive.
Among the factors that increase the likelihood of developing a disease, doctors distinguish the following:
- decreased immunity;
- the presence of ophthalmic, viral or bacterial ailments of a chronic course;
- allergic reactions;
- poor-quality or incorrect treatment of pathologies of the visual apparatus, including through the fault of the patient himself.
The mucous discharge from the patient's eyes can directly reach a healthy person or indirectly, for example, through hygiene products or clothing. In addition, flying insects pose an epidemiological hazard. Flies are capable of transmitting infection after contact with a sick person. The incubation period lasts from 5 to 16 days.
Clinical picture
Trachoma usually affects both eyes. However, there are exceptions in the form of damage to one organ of vision. The development of the disease is slow. The primary symptoms of eye trachoma are as follows:
- sensation of a foreign object under the eyelids;
- conjunctival redness;
- swelling;
- the formation of mucous discharge;
- hypersensitivity to light.
Initially, the listed symptoms affect only the upper eyelid. Gradually, the mucosa thickens. Small vesicles form on the inner side of the eyelid, which look like granules.
As the disease develops, its symptoms also change. Purulent discharge appears from the eyes. Perhaps turning the eyelid inward, there is a violation of the work of his muscle tissue.
Developmental stages
The disease goes through several stages of development, each of which has its own symptoms. And the treatment of trachoma of the eye, and the prognosis for recovery subsequently depend on this classification:
- Initial stage. It lasts no more than one week. It is characterized by swelling of the conjunctiva and its redness due to dilated capillaries. Abundant discharge from the eyes is also observed, follicles appear. Eyelashes constantly stick together and can fall out. Vision is gradually getting worse. The submandibular and cervical lymph nodes become inflamed.
- Active stage. The number of follicles with purulent contents increases. Some of them merge together, which only enhances the swelling of the eyelids. Uncontrolled lacrimation appears. The cornea is involved in the pathological process. The patient must be placed in a hospital, as he becomes a carrier of the disease.
- Scarring stage. Inflammation subsides, but scars appear on the site of the follicles. Scars are visible even with the naked eye. As the scar tissue grows, the eyelid begins to deform. Eyelashes are turned inward, injuring the cornea.
- Cicatricial stage. Symptoms of inflammation completely disappear. The cornea becomes cloudy, and scar tissue covers the entire eye. It can only be removed by surgery. There is a violation of patency of the lacrimal canal. The cornea becomes so dense that ulcers develop on it. Vision deteriorates or disappears completely.
Varieties of trachoma
The disease of the eye trachoma is also classified depending on the type of pathological elements that form in the lesion. There are 4 types of it:
- papillary (papillary elements grow on the conjunctiva);
- follicular (formations have the form of a follicle);
- mixed (follicular and papillary forms are detected simultaneously);
- infiltrative (pathology extends to the conjunctival membranes of the eyelids and cartilage).
Determining the type of ailment helps to draw up the right treatment tactics.
Diagnostic Methods
Diagnosis of pathology begins with a study of the patient's complaints, his medical history. After which the doctor proceeds to a physical examination. As can be seen in the photo, the symptoms of trachoma of the eye in many respects resemble ordinary conjunctivitis. At the initial stage of development of the patient, redness of the eyes and inflammation of the blood capillaries are pursued. Therefore, a physical examination is not an informative diagnostic method, especially in the early stages of an ailment, when pathological foci are absent on the eyelids.
Additionally, a comprehensive examination is prescribed, which consists of the following measures:
- cytological scraping (allows you to detect pathological elements);
- immunofluorescence reaction (helps detect chlamydia in the eyeball epithelium);
- polymerase chain reaction (carried out to quantify pathogenic microorganisms).
According to the results of the examination, the doctor prescribes therapy.
Treatment methods
The treatment of trachoma of the eyes implies a long-term antibacterial therapy of local action. Usually resort to the help of "Erythromycin", "Albucidum", "Oletetrina". The duration of the standard course of treatment is 7 days, then you need to take a break of 10 days.
After the first two courses of therapy, doctors recommend an autopsy or expression of follicles under local anesthesia. This procedure involves surgical intervention and is performed in a hospital. It provides acceleration of the healing process, helps to reduce the amount of scar tissue. If necessary, the operation is carried out in two stages with a mandatory break of 14 days.
In addition to antibiotic therapy, with eye trachoma, immunomodulators and vitamin complexes are indicated. All complications of the pathological process are eliminated by surgical intervention. For example, through cryosurgery, the eyelashes are epilated when glued. With the help of plastic surgery, eyelid twisting is corrected.
Possible complications
With early access to medical care and proper therapy, the prognosis for eye trachoma is favorable. According to medical statistics, a full recovery occurs in 80% of cases in just a few months. After completion of the course of therapy, relapses are not excluded. Perhaps their appearance after 5 or even 20 years. Therefore, the patient should regularly undergo preventive examinations by a doctor.
Otherwise, complications develop. The most common include clouding of the cornea and a decrease in visual acuity. Less common is the deformation of the eyelid, its fusion with the conjunctiva. Such changes are always accompanied by a violation of the production of moisture by the mucous membrane, against which dry eye syndrome develops.
Some complications are inflammatory in nature:
- Dacryocystitis. This is a pathology in which inflammation of the lacrimal sac is observed. At the same time, patients complain of discomfort and swelling of the lacrimal canal, pus secretion, painful syndrome in the nose and teeth.
- Endophthalmitis. With this ailment, a purulent secretion accumulates in the vitreous body with impregnation of all the membranes of the eye.
The listed complications can easily be avoided if, when the first symptoms of trachoma appear, seek medical help.
Preventive measures
In the photo, trachoma of the eye looks very unattractive, but in life this ailment can cause a lot of problems to the patient. In order to prevent its occurrence, doctors recommend adhering to the following rules:
- carefully monitor personal hygiene;
- do not use towels and other household items of strangers;
- try to touch your eyes less in public places;
- Do not use other people's cosmetics;
- prevent contact with possibly infected people;
- regularly undergo preventive examinations by an optometrist;
- to make wet cleaning in the house more often;
- Do not use glasses, contact lenses of strangers.
Prevention of the disease requires less effort and time than its treatment.