Autologous eye drops for the treatment of dry eye and neurotrophic keratitis.

Tears-which contain fibronectin, growth facors, and vitamins that support the migration, proliferation, and differentiation of the conjunctival and corneal epithelium-nourish, protect, and refresh the eye. An inadequate tear film produces a variety of symptoms (ocular irritation, itching, burning, eye strain or fatigue, photophobia, a foreign-body sensation, a sharp stabbing pain, blurred vision) that wax and wane in intensity and are characteristic of disorders such as dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) and neurotrophic keratitis. In patients for whom commercially manufactured eye drops fail to provide relief from the symptoms of those conditions, autologous serum eye drops (plasma eye drops, serum eye drops) have proven very effective. In this report, we examine the present case studies that reveal the efects of autologous serum eye drops on the signs and symptoms of both dry eye and neurotrophic keratitis. A procedure for preparing autologous eye drops is included.