AIM: To investigate tear film changes in children after acute conjunctivitis were treated.

METHODS: A perspective cohort study was conducted. Sixty-four acute conjunctivitis cases(64 unilateral eyes)from January 2016 to January 2017 were investigated in this study. Other tear film factors which could affect the conditions of dry eye were excluded. The height of tear meniscus, fluorescein staining(FL), tear film break up time(BUT)and Schirmer Ⅰ test(SⅠt)were checked and measured on both recovered eye and healthy eye of the patients at 3, 7, 14 and 30d after recovery, respectively.

RESULTS: The height of tear meniscus was 0.43±0.18mm in healthy eyes, 0.25±0.11mm, 0.23±0.13mm, 0.34±0.26mm in cured eyes at 3, 7 and 14d, all significantly lower than that in healthy eyes(t= -24.364, -24.042, -8.398,P<0.05), but that at 30d(0.44±0.06mm)was not different(t=1.987, P>0.05). FL scored 1.27±0.96 in healthy eyes, those of cured eyes were 2.13±0.75, 5.56±2.28, 4.21±0.91 at 3, 7 and 14d, significantly higher than that in healthy eyes(t=6.437, 18.303, 20.386; P<0.05); but that at 30d was 1.81±2.13 without difference(t=1.44, P>0.05). BUT was 13.33±2.75s in healthy eyes, those of cured eyes were 5.46±0.9s, 6.34±1.75s, 7.72±1.77s at 3, 7 and 14d, significantly lower than that in healthy eyes(t=-50.731, -50.522, -38.706; P<0.05); but that at 30d was 12.07±2.23s without difference(t=-1.470, P>0.05). SⅠT was 14.07±3.84mm/5min in healthy eyes, those of cured eyes were 8.03±1.79, 11.28±2.33, 12.59±2.56mm/5min at 3, 7 and 14d, significantly lower than that in healthy eyes(t=-20.892, -9.104, -6.710; P<0.05); but that at 30d was 13.57±3.46mm/5min without difference(t=-0.969, P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The short-term tear film instability and reversible dry eye might be arisen in children after acute conjunctivitis recovery. Considering the drug side effects to the tear film and minimizing the unnecessary use of drugs, however, dry eye can be avoided during the treatment of acute conjunctivitis. At the same time, the artificial tears could function to reduce the occurrence of xerophthalmia.