Abstract: Trachoma was the leading blinding eye disease in China. With the unremitting efforts of several generations, it was finally eliminated. The discovery of chlamydia trachomatis provided the scientific basis for the prevention and control of trachoma. In the 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, during trachoma prevention and control process,with comprehensive prevention and control measures including  the prioritization by chinese government, long-term effects in the improvement of water and toilet hygiene and environmental sanitation, increased investment in primary medical care, continuous construction of the three-tier medical service network, expanded coverage of the new rural cooperative medical system, greatly increased accessibility of medical services and availability of medications,  the elimination of blinding trachoma was ultimately achieved.This paper reviews the history of trachoma prevention and control in China, including trachoma epidemic period (before the founding of the People's Republic of China), discovery of chlamydia trachomatis and comprehensive and effective prevention and control of trachoma (after the founding of the People's Republic of China and before the reform and opening up), effective control of trachoma (after reform and opening up to 1999), and elimination of blinding trachoma (after 2000). (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2020, 44: 289-295)

Key words: trachoma, prevention of blindness