To investigate the incidence and risk factors of dry eye in children with diabetes mellitus (DM) over a period of 3 years. Children and adolescents with DM (age: 3-14 years) from the Shanghai Children and Adolescent Diabetes Eye (SCADE) study cohort who did not have dry eye in January 2018 were followed-up for 3 years and re-examined in January 2021, and the incidence rate and risk factors for dry eye were calculated. Forty children and adolescents with DM came for follow-up in 2021. Nine of them were diagnosed with dry eye, resulting in a 3-year incidence rate of 22.5% and an annual mean incidence rate of 7.5% for dry eye. Univariate regression analysis confirmed that decreased corneal sensation (OR [Odds Ratio] = 25.60; 95%CI [Confidence Interval] = 1.31~501.69; = 0.03) was the risk factor for dry eye incidence. Long course of DM (OR = 1.80; 95%CI = 0.96~3.38; = 0.07), eye pain (OR = 12.27; 95%CI = 0.65~231.48; = 0.09), and dry eye in parents (OR = 15.99; 95%CI = 0.76~337.75; = 0.08) may interfere with the incidence of dry eye in them. The incidence of dry eye in children and adolescents with DM is high.
Copyright © 2021 Chen, Xiao, Qian, Lin, Xiang, Cui, Sun, Li, Qin, Yang and Zou.

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