AIM:To investigate the effect of the tattoo on eyelid margin on the onset of dry eye.METHODS:One hundred and twenty-seven patients suffering from dry eye were chosen. 46 of them were tattooed,and the other 81 were not. The tear break-up time(BUT),the Shirmer test,conjunctival impression cytology(CIC),the age of the onset of dry eye were compared between the patients with and without tattoo,and the interval between the tattoo and the onset of dry eye was recorded. RESULTS:The latent period was 13.4 years. The patients with tattoo were younger than those without tattoo. The other results had no obvious difference between the patients with and without tattoo. CONCLUSION:The tattoo doesn’t affect the extent of dry eye,but can advance the onset time. The effects of tattoo on the course of dry eye and the treatment should be further discussed.