Influence of platelets on the healing of dry eye of patients treated with topical eye drops of autologous Platelet‐Rich Plasma (PRP)

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: To study the influence of high levels of platelets on patients suffering from dry eye and treated successfully with autologous PRP. Methods: Platelet enrichment on autologous PRP of 16 patients (age 65±14) suffering from moderate to severe dry eye was evaluated and different dry eye parameters (symptoms, BCVA, fluorescein staining, impression cytology) were correlated with this value. 7 patients had lower that 1.3 fold platelet enrichment on their autologous PRP (low platelets (PLTs) group) and 9 had more that 1.75 fold platelet enrichment (high PLTs group). Results: On the low PLTs group (7 patients), 50% of them showed a significant improvement of symptoms, 45% showed more than 1 line of BCVA improvement and 35% showed full disappearance of fluorescein staining. On the high PLTs group (9 patients), 78% of patient showed a significant improvement of symptoms, out of 10 patients evaluated for BCVA, 50% of them gained more that 2 lines of vision and 71% experienced a full disappearance of fluorescein staining. Conclusions: Autologous PRP has been shown to be very effective on dry eye treatment. On this study we show that high levels of platelets present on this biological product play an important role for the healing of dry eye. Other components of autologous PRP such as growth factors and vitamins should also help for improving these patients symptoms and main clinical signs.