AIM: To analyze the incidence and disease burden of foreign body in eyes in 1990 and 2019 of China.

METHODS: Using the global burden of disease database in 2019, the incidence and disability adjusted life years(DALY)of foreign body in eyes in 1990 and 2019 of China were analyzed among the total population and different age groups of China.

RESULTS: In 2019, the number of cases of foreign body in eyes in China was 11.2535 million, and the incidence was 79.12/10 000. The number and incidence of foreign body in eyes in 2019 decreased 12.87% and 27.49% respectively compared with those in 1990. In 2019, the DALY of foreign body in eyes in China was 181 200 person-years, and the DALY of foreign body in eyes in 2019 increased by 6.14% compared with 1990. In 2019, the age groups with the highest number of cases, incidence and DALY were all 20-54 years old, which were 8 012 600, 103.97/10 000 and 102 500 person-years, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the incidence of foreign body in eyes in China showed a decreasing trend, average annual percentage change(AAPC)=-1.2%(95%CI: -1.8～-0.7, P<0.05), and DALY rate also showed a decreasing trend, AAPC=-0.6%(95%CI:-2.1～0, P<0.05). From 1990 to 2019, the incidence and DALY rate of foreign body in eyes in China and the World showed a downward trend. In 2019, the incidence and DALY rate of foreign body in eyes in China were significantly higher than those in the World and regions with different sociodemographic index(SDI).

CONCLUSION: Although the incidence and DALY rates of foreign body in eyes in China have been decreasing in recent years, China has a large population base and the burden of foreign body in eyes is still large in the World. Active preventive measures should be taken to reduce the disease burden of foreign body in eyes.