How is the World Health Organization (WHO) tackling neglected tropical diseases affecting the eye? The case of trachoma and onchocerciasis

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are defined as diseases that mainly affect individuals living in the most deprived populations globally and continue to persist as a consequence of poverty (1). The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that greater than 1.7 billion individuals are affected by NTDs, largely in countries of lower to middle-income or low-income (1). Several factors influence the persistence of NTDs including inadequate data regarding the conditions, poor political support, ineffective ways to remove human waste safely, and limited availability of clean water (1,2). There are 20 currently listed NTDs (3). Several NTDs can impact eye health such as blinding trachoma and onchocerciasis (river blindness) which table 1 outlines (3,4). This article provides an overview of the WHO initiatives to manage trachoma and onchocerciasis, two NTDs that can affect the eyes.