AIM: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of dry eye in children under 14 years old in Changdu.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2019 to investigate the epidemiology of primary and secondary school students under 14 years old in Changdu city, and the prevalence and risk factors of xerophthalmia in children under 14 years old in this area were analyzed by self-made questionnaire.

RESULTS:There were 2 648 children in this study, 2 389 of them were investigated in the course of investigation, the overall investigation rate was 90.22%, 413 of them had dry eye symptoms(17.29%), 331 of them were diagnosed as dry eye disease, and the prevalence rate of dry eye disease was 13.86%. The univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in age, gender, history of eye surgery, history of eye trauma, preference for fruits and vegetables, allergic conjunctivitis, trichiasis, ametropia, trachoma, blepharitis, reading and writing posture, contact lens, computer or hand machine time, passive smoking, antibiotic eyedrop between children with dry eye and children without dry eye(P<0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic analysis showed that age, allergic conjunctivitis, blepharitis, ametropia and passive smoking were the risk factors(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The incidence of dry eye is high in children under 14 years old in Changdu city, and the age, allergic conjunctivitis, blepharitis, ametropia and passive smoking are the risk factors of children's dry eye in Changdu city.