Trial reportPLoS neglected tropical diseases2015
Epilation for minor trachomatous trichiasis: four-year results of a randomised controlled trial.
Trial report in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Systematic review of the incidence of post-operative trichiasis in Africa.BMC ophthalmology · 2020Pooled it
- Blinding Trachoma: Systematic Review of Rates and Risk Factors for Progressive Disease.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2016Pooled it
- The prevention and management of postoperative trachomatous trichiasis: A systematic review.Survey of ophthalmologyPooled it
- Trachoma.Lancet (London, England) · 2025Review
- Progress towards the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in four counties of Eastern Equatoria State, Republic of South Sudan.Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH · 2025Article
- Trachoma Impact Survey Results from 31 Woredas in Tigray Region, Ethiopia.Ophthalmic epidemiology · 2024Article
- Trachoma.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2022Review
- Characteristics and perspectives of patients with postoperative trichiasis in Hadiya Zone, Ethiopia.International health · 2022Article
- Uptake of Trachoma Trichiasis Surgery and Associated Factors Among Trichiasis-Diagnosed Clients in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2021Article
- Effect of repeated epilation for minor trachomatous trichiasis on lash burden, phenotype and surgical management willingness: A cohort study.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2020Article
- Article
- Progress toward Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem in Seven Localities in the Republic of Sudan: Results from Population-Based Surveys.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2019Article
- Potential Effect of Epilation on the Outcome of Surgery for Trachomatous Trichiasis.Translational vision science & technology · 2019Article
- Determinants for not utilizing trachomatous trichiasis surgery among trachomatous trichiasis patients in Mehalsayint District, North-East Ethiopia.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2018Article
- Burden of trachoma in five counties of Eastern Equatoria state, South Sudan: Results from population-based surveys.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2017Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
15 authors at 7 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundTrachomatous 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. METHODOLOGY/ PRINCIPAL
findings1300 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%) fully controlled their TT, 166 (43.3%) had minor TT and 10 (2.6%) had major TT (>5 lashes). There were no differences between participants in the epilation-only, epilation-to-surgery and surgery arm participants in changes in visual acuity and corneal opacity between baseline and four-years. CONCLUSIONS/ SIGNIFICANCE: Most minor TT participants randomised to the epilation arm continued epilating and controlled their TT. Change in vision and corneal opacity was comparable between surgery and epilation-only participants. This suggests that good quality epilation with regular follow-up is a reasonable second-line alternative to surgery for minor TT for individuals who either decline surgery or do not have immediate access to surgical treatment.
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