AIM: To study the incidence of dry eye among clinic pediatric patients, and to analyze the correlation between pediatric dry eye and age, video display terminals(VDT)and conjunctivitis.

METHODS: There were 128 cases of ophthalmology pediatric outpatients(7-13 years)enrolled in this study in an order-statistic manner. Modified ocular surface disease index(OSDI)questionnaire and the tear film breakup time(BUT)were used to evaluate the prevalence of dry eye and severity.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of dry eye in this study was 19.5%, of which 64 cases(15.6%)of children belongs to 7-10 years old group; another 64 cases(23.4%)of children belongs to 11-13 years old group. OSDI averaged 2.15±0.83 in 11-13 years old group, which was higher than that of 7-10 years old group(1.55±0.61). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). In contrast, BUT averaged 10.05±2.97s in 11-13 years old group, which was shorter than that of 7-10 years old group(12.05±3.25s). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). Those children who used visual display terminals over 2h every day had dry eye prevalence higher than that of the control group(43.3% vs 12.2%). Similarly, those who suffered from conjunctivitis during the recently three months had dry eye prevalence higher than that of the control group(26.3% vs 8.3%). The differences of OSDI and BUT between groups of each case were statistically significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: A considerable number of pediatric patients suffered from dry eye. Growing age, excessive use of visual display terminals and conjunctivitis are important risk factors.