Abstract:Objective To analyze the risk factors of eye diseases in children aged 3 to 6 years in highland areas.Methods On July 10, 2020, 1352, 593 and 935 children aged 3 to 6 years were randomly selected from kindergartens in Xining, Yushu and Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Haixi) in Qinghai province, respectively. The refractive status of all children was measured with the Welch Allyn vision screener, and the incidence of eye diseases such as abnormal visual acuity, acute conjunctivitis, strabismus, nystagmus, and keratitis was recorded. The data of the children and their parents were collected by questionnaire survey, and the risk factors affecting the occurrence of eye diseases in children aged 3 to 6 years in highland areas were determined via Logistic regression analysis.Results The incidence of non-infectious eye diseases in Xining and Yushu was higher than that in Haixi (P < 0.05), and the incidence of non-infectious eye diseases in Yushu was even higher than that in Xining (P < 0.05). The incidence of infectious eye diseases in Haixi was higher than that in Xining and Yushu (P < 0.05), and the incidence of infectious eye diseases in Yushu was even higher than that in Xining (P < 0.05). The multivariable Logistic regression analysis revealed that the average altitude of residence [O^R = 3.963 (95% CI: 0.187, 0.341) ], time spent watching TV and using electronic devices [O^R = 0.938 (95% CI: 1.269, 1.678) ], the refractive status of father [O^R= 0.997 (95% CI: 1.151, 1.956) ] and that of mother [O^R = 0.914 (95% CI: 1.313, 1.695) ] were the factors affecting the occurrence of non-infectious eye diseases in children aged 3 to 6 years (P < 0.05). In contrast, the factors affecting the occurrence of infectious eye diseases in children aged 3 to 6 years include the average altitude of residence [O^R = 1.659 (95% CI: 0.287, 0.316) ], picky eating [O^R = 1.980 (95% CI: 1.218, 2.316) ], daily amount of sleep [O^R = 5.291 (95% CI: 1.639, 1.835) ], and average annual sunshine duration [O^R = 5.558 (95% CI: 1.021, 1.935) ] (P < 0.05).Conclusions The incidence of abnormal visual acuity in Yushu is higher than that in other areas. The average altitude of residence, time spent watching TV and using electronic devices, the refractive status of father and that of mother are the independent factors affecting the occurrence of non-infectious eye diseases among children aged 3 to 6 years old, while the average altitude of residence, picky eating, average annual sunshine duration and daily amount of sleep are independent factors affecting the occurrence of infectious eye diseases among these children. To raise the public awareness of eye care and to work out relevant interventions are conducive to reducing the incidence of eye diseases in children aged 3 to 6 years.