Epilation for minor trachomatous trichiasis: four-year results of a randomised controlled trial

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Esmael HabtamuMatthew J Burton

Abstract

Trachomatous trichiasis (TT) needs to be managed to reduce the risk of vision loss. The long-term impact of epilation (a common traditional practice of repeated plucking of lashes touching the eye) in preventing visual impairment and corneal opacity from TT is unknown. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of epilation versus surgery for the management of minor TT (fewer than six lashes touching the eye) in Ethiopia. Here we report the four-year outcome and the effect on vision and corneal opacity. 1300 individuals with minor TT were recruited and randomly assigned to quality trichiasis surgery or repeated epilation using high quality epilation forceps by a trained person with good near vision. Participants were examined six-monthly for two-years, and then at four-years after randomisation. At two-years all epilation arm participants were offered free surgery. At four-years 1151 (88.5%) were re-examined: 572 (88%) and 579 (89%) from epilation and surgery arms, respectively. At that time, 21.1% of the surgery arm participants had recurrent TT; 189/572 (33%) of the epilation arm had received surgery, while 383 (67%) declined surgery and had continued epilating ("epilation-only"). Among the epilation-only group, 207 (54.1%) f...Continue Reading

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Sep 7, 2012·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Saul N RajakMatthew J Burton
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Jul 22, 2014·Lancet·Hugh R TaylorHeathcote Wright

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Citations

Aug 3, 2016·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Athumani M RamadhaniMatthew J Burton
Jun 15, 2017·PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases·Angelia M SandersScott D Nash
Sep 7, 2019·Translational Vision Science & Technology·Sandra Liliana TaleroSheila K West
Nov 19, 2020·BMC Ophthalmology·Grace MwangiAnthony W Solomon

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