trachoma

American  

[truh-koh-muh] / trəˈkoʊ mə /

noun

Ophthalmology.

1. a chronic, contagious infection of the conjunctiva and cornea, characterized by the formation of granulations and scarring and caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.

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trachoma British  

/ trəˈkəʊmə, -ˈkəʊ- /

noun

1. a chronic contagious disease of the eye characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea and the formation of scar tissue, caused by infection with the virus-like bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis

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trachoma Scientific  

/ trə-kō′mə /

1. A contagious disease of the conjunctiva and cornea, caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and characterized by granules of inflammatory tissue. It is a major cause of blindness in Asia and Africa.

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Other Word Forms

• trachomatous
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of trachoma

1685–95; < Greek trā́chōma roughness, equivalent to trāch ( ýs ) rough + -ōma -oma

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trachoma

The most feared of all diseases was trachoma, an infection of the eyes that did not kill but left its victims blind.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022

Given its limited resources, the Zambian government has to prioritize “mainstream” diseases that result in loss of life, like H.I.V., over neglected diseases like trachoma, he said.

From New York Times ● Oct. 19, 2022

Since 2002, tens of millions of people have been treated for trachoma — and spared blindness.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 1, 2020

Latest figures show that nearly 158 million people worldwide are at risk from blinding trachoma, a disease caused by infection of the eye.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2018

It diagnosed the C of conjunctivitis, the F of favus, and the T of trachoma.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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