Applications of Autologous Serum Eye Drops in Aniridic Keratopathy

Abstract

Aniridia is an uncommon congenital bilateral disease that involves the cornea, anterior chamber, lens, retina and optic nerve. Corneal changes in aniridic keratopathy include recurrent erosions of corneal epithelium, tear film instability, chronic pain, corneal vascularisation, dry eye, progressive corneal opacification and blindness. The autologous serum contains a variety of growth factors, vitamins and immunoglobulins, some of which are in higher concentrations than in natural tears. The growth factors and protein found in the serum may help the proliferation, migration and adhesion of epithelial corneal cells. They are by nature non-allergenic and their biochemical and biomechanical properties are similar to those of normal tears. The ocular surface, including corneal impression cytology and tear film evaluation, of patients with congenital aniridia was studied prior to and after treatment with autologous serum eye drops.