Management of Severe Dry Eye: Role of Autologous Serum Eye Drops

Abstract

Theoretically, autologous serum eye drops have a potential advantage over traditional therapies based on the assumption that AS serve not only as a lacrimal substitute to provide lubrication, but also contain other biochemical components mimicking natural tears more closely. The application of AS in dry eye treatment has gained popularity as a second-line therapy in the treatment of dry eye. Published studies on the subject indicate that autologous serum could be an effective treatment for dry eye. Tear film plays an important part in the maintenance of intact ocular surface with their anti-microbial, nourishing, mechanical and optical properties. Components of tears include growth factors, fibronectin and vitamins to support proliferation, migration and differentiation of the corneal and conjunctival epithelium. Depletion in quantity or quality of tears can lead to various changes like squamous metaplasia, epithelial defects and infections of corneal epithelium. Artificial tears used in treatment of dry eye provide lubrication to the ocular surface, but they fall short of functioning as tears due to lack of nutrients and factors present in natural tears. Autologous serum drops being prepared from patient's body fluids are thus non-allergic and their biomechanical and biochemical properties are similar to normal tears. Autologous serum eye drops can provide lubrication and important biochemical components that mimic natural tears for dry eye patients. Serum eye drops are becoming a more popular second-line therapy to treat dry eye. This study explains the role of Autologous serum drops in dry eye [1-3].