Abstract :
This systematic review assesses the significance of screening, diagnosis, and management of Dry Eye Disease (DED) in children. Increased screen time and environmental exposure make pediatric DED a common entity that goes unnoticed because symptoms are not typical and children are asymptomatic. A search of literature was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for the years 2000-2025, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Around twenty-nine studies with 8,520 children were incorporated in the current review and discovered that instruments such as the modified Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI SPEED, non-invasive tear film tests, and tear break-up time (TBUT) are useful in diagnosis but not validated in children. Early treatment methods, such as artificial tears, behavioral changes, and warm compresses, were demonstrated to improve tear film stability, decrease symptoms, and increase visual function. The review highlights the need for systematic screening and prompt management of pediatric DED to avoid chronic ocular surface disease. A standardized, age-specific screening instrument should be used in clinical and school environments to facilitate early diagnosis and enhance long-term outcomes in children with DED.
Keyword :
Dry eye syndrome, Pediatrics, Child, Surveys and questionnaires, Diagnostic techniques, Artificial tears.