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Silicone hydrogels, autologous serum effective for persistent epithelial defects
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The combined use of silicone hydrogel contact lenses with autologous serum eye drops can treat postinfectious corneal persistent epithelial defects and prevent continuous corneal melting during acute disease, according to researchers.
The retrospective chart review included 12 patients with corneal persistent epithelial defects (PED) secondary to infectious corneal ulcers who were treated with a combination of autologous serum eye drops (ASEs) and silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
Before attempting combined therapy, patients were administered several sole agents, including artificial tears or lubricating gel/ointment, and all proved unsuccessful.
Patients were fitted for silicone hydrogel contact lenses (PureVision, Bausch & Lomb) and administered 20% ASEs bi-hourly during waking hours along with prophylactic 0.5% levofloxacin ophthalmic solution (Cravit, Santen) four times daily.
Corneal epithelial healing was recorded every 1 to 3 days by slit lamp examination until complete corneal re-epithelialization was visualized.
All patients achieved complete re-epithelialization within 2 weeks of combined silicone hydrogel contact lens and ASEs therapy.
Corneal scraping and cultures revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus in nine of 12 patients. No side effects were observed in any of the patients, and no visible deposits were noted on the lens surface.
During the 3-month follow-up, no recurrence of an epithelial breakdown was observed.
Researchers demonstrated that the combined use of silicone hydrogels and 20% ASEs is potentially efficacious, well tolerated and associated with an improvement of final best corrected visual acuity and may be considered as an alternate treatment of postinfectious corneal PEDs. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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