Abstract:  Objective To observe the relationship between tattoo on eyelid margin and dry eye. Design Case-control study. Participants Tattooed female patients 46 cases (92 eyes). Fifty three cases of non-tattooed female healthy people (106 eyes) were consider as the controls. There was no significant difference in ages between the case group and the controls. Methods According to the Japan dry eye diagnostic criteria, subjective symptoms, the results of Schirmner I test, the tear break-up time (BUT) and corneal fluorescein-staining were compared between two groups. Main Outcome Measures Subjective symptoms, Schirmner I test, BUT and corneal fluorescein-staining. Results There were 18 patients (39.13%) diagnosed as dry eye, 27 ones (58.70%) with subjective symptoms, 14 ones (30.43%) with Schirmer I test ≤ 5mm/5min, 21 ones (45.65%) with BUT ≤ 5s, and 20 ones (43.48%) with positive corneal fluorescein staining  in the case group. There were 10 patients (18.87%) diagnosed as dry eye, 18 ones (33.96%) with subjective symptoms, 7 ones (13.21%) with Schirmer I test ≤ 5mm/5min, 12 ones (22.64%) with BUT ≤ 5s, and 12 ones (22.64%) with positive corneal fluorescein staining in the control group (P all<0.05), The higher proportion of dry eye and subjective symptoms, the lower of Schirmer I test and BUT, and the higher positive rate of corneal fluorescein-staining were observed in the case group comparing with the control group. Conclusion Tattooed on eyelid margin could cause symptoms of ocular surface damage and dry eye in a sense.

Key words: tattoo on eyelid margin, dry eye