AIM: To explore the correlation of inflammatory cytokine(TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6)concentrations of patients' tears with chemical burns of the ocular surface and its severity and prognosis.

METHODS: Totally, 66 cases(80 eyes)of chemical burns of the ocular surface were divided to 4 degrees according to Roper-Hall classificatory criteria, with 35 cases(44 eyes)of degree I and II, 22 cases(25 eyes)of degree III, 9 cases(11 eyes)of degree IV. The concentration of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in tears was detected by ELISA, and there were 12 healthy people as control group.

RESULTS: The concentration of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in patients with chemical burns of the ocular surface was higher than control group(P<0.01), among which, degree IV > degree III > degree I and II(P<0.01), and blinding rate in degree IV was higher than that in degree III, I and II(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The concentration of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in patients with chemical burns of the ocular surface rises dramatically, with the increase of Roper-Hall classificatory criteria. With the increase of concentration of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, the blinding rate rises. There would be of great significance of inflammatory cytokine concentrations for judging the severity and prognosis of patients with chemical burns of ocular burn.