AIM: To evaluate the prevalence and potential risk factors of dry eye among residents in Hotan, Xinjiang, China.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 6 027 residents aged 18-98 from 105 villages in Hotan, Xinjiang, China from January 2019 to September 2019. The subjective symptoms of dry eye were collected by ocular surface disease index(OSDI)questionnaire, and the objective signs were collected by testing fluorescein breakup time(FBUT)and Schirmer Ⅰ test, so as to analyze the prevalence and risk factors of dry eye.

RESULTS: A total of 6 339 subjects aged 18-98 years were recruited from residents in Hotan, Xinjiang, China. Relevant eye examinations and questionnaires were conducted on the subjects, of which 6 027 were valid questionnaires, with an effective recovery rate of 95.08%. The dry eye detection rate of 6 027 residents was 40.37%(2 433/6 027), and the dry eye detection rates of male and female were 36.47%(846/2 320)and 42.81%(1 587/3 707)respectively. The dry eye detection rates of 18-24 years old, 25-34 years old, 35-44 years old, 45-54 years old, 55-64 years old, and ≥65 years old were 13.77%, 15.67%, 33.31%, 46.35%, 47.65%, 53.50%, respectively. According to the severity of dry eye, they were divided into mild dry eye, moderate dry eye and severe dry eye, and their constituent ratios were 80.11%, 19.03% and 0.86%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dry eye in the study population was 40.37%. The prevalence of dry eye in female was higher than that in male, and the prevalence of dry eye increased with the increase of age. Older age and female are the risk factors for dry eye.