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Autologous serum eye drops may improve dry eye symptoms
Patients with severe dry eye reported subjective improvement in symptoms after long-term use of autologous serum 50% eye drops, according to study findings.
The retrospective study included 123 eyes of 63 patients who were treated with autologous serum 50% eye drops for severe dry eye disease. Patients were treated four times a day for a minimum of 3 months. Mean follow-up was 12 months.
Mean corneal fluorescein staining improved from 1.77 at baseline to 1.1 at final follow-up. Schirmer’s scores improved from 6.6 mm at baseline to 10.7 mm at the 12- to 24-month follow-up, and ocular surface index scores improved from 54.1 at baseline to 49.5 at the 6- to less-than-12-month follow-up.
No complications were reported, according to the researchers.
The researchers concluded that in individuals with autoimmune conditions associated with dry eye disease, autologous serum eye drops may affect serum cytokines and growth factors, resulting in different epitheliotropic properties.
Even though patients with graft-versus-host disease reported subjective relief of symptoms and significant improvement in Schirmer’s and corneal staining scores, Ocular Surface Disease Index scores did not improve significantly, according to the researchers.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.