AIM: To investigate the ocular surface condition among exotropia patients of different age groups by Oculus anterior segment analyzer.

METHODS: The ocular surface condition of 66 patients with extropia were examined by Oculus anterior segment analyzer, including tear meniscus height, tear meniscus height after irritation, redness index, non-invasive break-up time(BUT), average BUT. Three groups were divided according to age: 2-7 years, 8-18 years and 19-46 years.

RESULTS: BUT, temporal conjunctival redness index, temporal ciliary redness index, nasal ciliary redness index of 2-7 years group were statistically different to those of 8-18 years group and 19-46 years group. There were no statistically differentiations between redness index at different areas in each group and no statistically differentiations in redness index between dominant eye and nondominant eye(P>0.05). Redness index showed a positive lineal correlation with age.

CONCLUSION: Patients are combined with dry eye and unstable tear firm beside strabismus before surgery. Ocular surface assessment should be paid attention to in preschool children in order to prevent complications around operation. Ocular surface data of children with different ages needs to be screened and collected in China.