This Maasai-language brochure educates communities about trachomatous trichiasis—a condition where eyelashes turn inward and damage the eye. It explains the causes, effects, treatment options, and encourages early surgical intervention to prevent blindness.
Knowledge that drives action. Tools that support change.
Resources
At KCCO, we believe that sharing practical knowledge is just as powerful as delivering care.
Our growing resource library supports eye care professionals, program managers, policymakers, researchers and educators across Africa with tools designed to strengthen systems, train teams and scale sustainable impact.
Whether you’re developing a national plan, launching a hospital program, or conducting training in remote areas. These resources are built to inform and empower your work.
Trichiasis
Surgery for trachomatous trichiasis
This collection presents research on the surgical management of trachomatous trichiasis, exploring outcomes, interventions, barriers to uptake, and methods to optimize prevalence estimates to support WHO’s SAFE strategy for trachoma elimination.
WHO’s SAFE Strategy and Global Efforts Toward the Elimination of Trachoma: Mapping, Surveillance, and Progress Reports
This document compiles key research on trachoma mapping, prevalence surveys, and elimination efforts across multiple countries, highlighting methodologies, challenges, and progress toward meeting WHO elimination thresholds, with a focus on Ghana, The Gambia, and global trichiasis burden estimates.
What is trichiasis?
This leaflet explains trichiasis, a condition where eyelashes turn inward and scratch the surface of the eye, often due to scarring from infections like trachoma. If left untreated, trichiasis can lead to corneal scarring and blindness. However, blindness is preventable with early surgery. The recommended treatment is a simple lid rotation surgery, which can be done in local clinics by trained health workers. Pulling out lashes is not a reliable solution, as they grow back and may cause more damage. Women are especially at risk, and anyone experiencing symptoms should seek prompt care to protect their vision.