AIM:In order to assess the characteristics of severe systemic diseases in ophthalmologic inpatients in our hospital, and to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases in earlier stages.METHODS:The medical records of inpatients with systemic diseases from 2016 cases in Xi' an Northern Hospital from June 2007 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed, which included new acute diseases and chronic diseases with acute occurrence.RESULTS:In all the 2016 inpatients, 1644 patients (81.55%) with a history of systemic disease, 36 patients (1.79%) developed severe systemic disease in hospital. The severe systemic diseases included 19 hypertensive crisis, 3 myocardial infarction, and 2 acute hypotension in circulatory system; 2 hematencephalon and 2 acute cerebral infarction in nervous system; 2 acute gastroenteritis and 1 acute gastrointestinal blooding in digestive system; 2 acute abdomen induced by lithangiuria in urinary system; and 3 severe drug allergy. After appropriate rescue, all of the inpatients with severe systemic disease were got in good conditions, without progress of their ocular diseases.CONCLUSION:With majority of senile and a history of systemic diseases, the risk of severe disease is higher in ophthalmologic inpatients. It is helpful for ophthalmologic treatment with a comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and effective treatment of severe systemic diseases in early stages. 