Comparison of Autologous Serum Eye Drops with Different Diluents

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effect of autologous serum eye drops with different diluents in patients with dry eyes and persistent epithelial defects.

Methods: Patients of Sjögren’s syndrome (Group I), non-Sjögren’s syndrome (group II) with dry eye, and persistent epithelial defects (Group III) were included. The eyes of each group were randomly treated with one of the following autologous serum eye drops: 100% serum (AS₁₀₀), 50% serum with normal saline (AS_50NS); 50% serum with sodium hyaluronate (AS_50HA); or 50% serum with ceftazidime (AS_50CEF). The differences in dry eye symptoms, Schirmer test I, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal staining, and speed in epithelial healing were studied.

Results: In Group I, AS₁₀₀ showed fewer symptoms than AS_50NS, AS_50HA and AS_50CEF (all p < 0.01). AS₁₀₀ showed significantly better effect than AS_50NS, AS_50HA and AS_50CEF in decreasing corneal staining at the time point of 12-week post-treatment (p = 0.041, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). In Group II, AS₁₀₀ was more effective than AS_50CEF in decreasing symptoms and decreasing corneal staining (all p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in symptom and corneal staining between AS₁₀₀ and AS_50NS. In Group III, AS₁₀₀ was the most effective in achieving quick epithelial closure.

Conclusion: In the eyes with Sjögren syndrome and persistent epithelial defects, AS₁₀₀ was the most effective in decreasing symptoms, corneal epitheliopathy and promoting fast closure of wound. In the eyes with non-Sjögren syndrome, AS₁₀₀ and AS_50NS have similar effects in decreasing symptoms and corneal epitheliopathy.

KEYWORDS::

• Autologous serum
• Concentration
• Dry eye
• Diluents
• Persistent epithelial defect

Declaration of interest: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.