Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection found in poor, isolated communities lacking basic hygiene, clean water, and adequate sanitation. Trachoma is easily spread from person to person through eye-seeking flies, hands, and clothes. Repeated infection over time leads to scarring and inward turning of the eyelid, causing the eyelashes to scratch the cornea — a very painful condition called trachomatous trichiasis — which eventually causes blindness if left untreated.