Neglected Eyes

By definition, neglected diseases are overlooked. Their effects are not often deadly, but can still wreak havoc among an estimated billion people in the world's poorest populations. Trachoma, a bacterial infection that leads to blindness, is a prime example. Illustrated by this map, in which country size relates to numbers of trachoma cases, the overwhelming burden of the disease falls on Africa and South-East Asia. And, although it causes no large, media-attracting outbreaks, the disease nonetheless takes a dramatic toll. Over 40 million people need treatment, as the roughening of the eyelids and in-growing of their lashes slowly but steadily destroys their eyes. But it doesn't have to be this way. Treatments costing as little as 50p would go a long way to eliminate the disease, and prevent further growth of the group of more than one million people who have already lost their sight because of the disease.

Written by Jan Piotrowski

Jan Piotrowski

Writer

A recent Imperial College graduate with a Masters in Science Communication, Jan now works as a freelance science communicator. His interests focus on neuroscience, psychology and the environment.

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• Copyright SASI Group (University of Sheffield) and Mark Newman (University of Michigan)