What is the Difference Between Glaucoma and Trachoma

The key difference between glaucoma and trachoma is that glaucoma is an eye condition caused by the fluid build-up in the front part of the eye, while trachoma is an eye condition caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.

Glaucoma and trachoma are two eye conditions. Eye conditions and diseases are very common in older people and people suffering from underlying health conditions. Both these conditions may cause vision-related problems such as blurred vision and vision loss. Therefore, these conditions should be treated immediately when they are diagnosed by a specialist ophthalmologist.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Glaucoma 
3. What is Trachoma
4. Similarities – Glaucoma and Trachoma
5. Glaucoma vs Trachoma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Glaucoma vs Trachoma

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a common eye condition that is caused by fluid build-up in the front part of the eye. In this condition, the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain becomes damaged. When fluid builds up in the front part of the eye, it increases the pressure inside the eye. This leads to optic nerve damage. Glaucoma can affect people of all ages. However, it is more common in adults in their 70s and 80s. Glaucoma tends to develop slowly and first affects peripheral vision. This condition generally affects both eyes. But it may be worse in one eye.

The major symptoms of glaucoma include blurred vision, seeing rainbow-colored circles around bright lights, intense pain, nausea and vomiting, a red eye, a headache, and tenderness around the eyes. The risk factors for glaucoma may include age (older adults), ethnicity (African, Asian, and Caribbean origin), family history, and other medical conditions (short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and diabetes).

Glaucoma can be diagnosed through routine vision tests and measurements of the pressure inside the eye. Furthermore, treatment options for glaucoma include eye drops, laser treatments, and surgery to improve the drainage of fluid.

What is Trachoma?

Trachoma is an eye condition that is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. In the beginning, trachoma may cause mild itching and irritation in the eyes and eyelids. Then it can produce swollen eyelids and pus drainage from the eyes. Later, if trachoma is not treated well, it can lead to blindness. The symptoms of trachoma include mild itching and irritation of the eyes and eyelids, eye discharge containing mucus or pus, eyelid swelling, photophobia, pain in the eye, redness in the eye, and vision loss. The risk factors for trachoma are crowded living conditions, poor sanitation, age (common in children ages 4 to 6), sex (women affected more), and flies.

Trachoma can be treated through routine physical examination, eye tests, and blood tests. Furthermore, treatment options for trachoma include surgery to treat advanced forms of trachoma (eyelid rotation surgery), antibiotics (tetracycline and azithromycin) to treat the bacterial infection, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvements, particularly in water, sanitation, and control of flies.

What are the Similarities Between Glaucoma and Trachoma?

• Glaucoma and trachoma are two eye conditions.
• Both these conditions may cause vision-related problems such as blurred vision and vision loss.
• Both these conditions can be treated through routine eye tests.
• They are mainly treated through specific surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Glaucoma and Trachoma?

Glaucoma is an eye condition caused by the fluid build-up in the front part of the eye, while trachoma is an eye condition caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Thus, this is the key difference between glaucoma and trachoma. Furthermore, glaucoma is more common in adults in their 70s and 80s, while trachoma is common in children ages 4 to 6.

The below infographic presents the differences between glaucoma and trachoma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Glaucoma vs Trachoma

Eye conditions affect people of all ages. Glaucoma and trachoma are two eye conditions that can cause blurred vision or vision loss. Glaucoma is caused by the fluid build-up in the front part of the eye, and it affects mainly adults in their 70s and 80s. Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It affects children of ages 4 to 6. So, this summarizes the difference between glaucoma and trachoma.

Reference:

1. “Glaucoma.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 30 Sept. 2022.
2. “Trachoma.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 June 2022.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Acute angle closure glaucoma” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Trachoma severe trichiasis, with corneal scarring, blind eye” By Community Eye Health (CC BY-NC 2.0) via Flickr