Autologous serum in treatment of dry eye

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. The treatment of dry eye by autologous serum is a simple and inexpensive treatment option. It is particularly effective in severe forms of dry eye as well as for chemical eye injuries, and it is justified by the presence of essential tear components which are not found in preparations of artificial tears. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of autologous serum therapy in the patients with dry eye. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We monitored the effect of one-month treatment of dry eye by autologous serum (used with artificial tear preparations) in 50 rheumatology patients (23 men and 27 women) aged 26-65 years at the Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Center Nis. We analyzed ocular discomfort and the values of objective parameters for the evaluation of tear film at baseline and one month later (Schirmer I, Tears Break Up Time and Rose Bengal). RESULTS. A statistically significant reduction of subjective complaints was found in the patients after the treatment by autologous serum (p<0.05), along with a minimal improvement of objective tests for checking the tear film quality. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. The use ofautologous serum in dry eye therapy should provide benefit to the patients, relieve symptoms and improve objective parameters for the evaluation of dry eye. Both doctors and patients should be adequately informed, and proper screening of potential users of this method should be done. Not only additional tests of therapeutic effect of autologous serum (as well as of umbilical cord serum or autologous plasma) are needed but also parallel clinical and histopathological examination and analysis of the effects of this type of treatment of dry eye.