The efficacy of autologous serum eye drops for severe dry eye syndrome: a randomized double-blind crossover study.

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the efficacy of autologous serum (AS) eye drops for the symptomatic relief of severe dry eye syndrome (DES), as compared to conventional preservative-free artificial tears (PFAT).

METHODS

This prospective double-blind randomized crossover study used the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer's Test, and OXFORD Scale at baseline and after each of two 1-month treatment periods to measure the effect of 20 % diluted AS eye drops vs. PFAT in 20 consecutive severe DES patients that were refractory to conventional treatment.

RESULTS

The study included 20 (18 female and two male) severe DES patients (40 eyes). Significantly higher TBUT (P < 0.001, Wilcoxon signed-rank test) and a greater decrease in OSDI score (55.18 % decrease in the AS treatment group vs. 19.50 % decrease in the PFAT treatment group) (P < 0.001, Student's paired samples t-test) were observed in the AS treatment group after 1 month of treatment. There wasn't a significant difference in Schirmer's test and OXFORD conjunctival and corneal vital dying grading scores between the two treatment groups after 1 month of treatment (P > 0.05 [Mann-Whitney U test]).

CONCLUSIONS

AS eye drops were more effective than conventional eye drops for improving tear film stability and subjective comfort in patients with severe DES.