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, trəˈkɒmətəs, -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

Etymology

Origin of trachoma

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

Example Sentences

Using education and simple, low-cost methods, the Carter Center’s health initiatives addressed “neglected tropical diseases”: lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, schistosomiasis and malaria.

From Los Angeles Times

In May 2021, for example, Britain abruptly ended a £1 million annual donation to a program that provided treatment for trachoma — a bacterial eye infection — to 1.7 million people in Zambia.

From New York Times

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

From Washington Post

The End Fund is working mightily to eradicate elephantiasis and other “neglected tropical diseases,” including river blindness and trachoma, both excruciatingly painful causes of blindness.

From New York Times

Approximately 11.9 million people have impaired vision or blindness caused by glaucoma, diabetes and trachoma that could have been avoided.

From The Guardian