Autologous Serum Tears offer a personalized, natural solution for severe dry eye. Get in touch with experienced professionals listed with Specialty Vision to find out if this treatment is right for you!
For patients with severe or persistent dry eye, Autologous Serum Eye Drops offer a breakthrough treatment that uses your body's own healing power. These custom-made eye drops are created from your own blood serum, providing a solution rich in nutrients and growth factors that artificial tears simply cannot replicate, helping to heal the eye's surface and provide lasting relief.
When you have dry eye disease, the first line of defense is often over-the-counter artificial tears. While these drops can provide temporary lubrication, they are a simple solution of salt and water with lubricants. They lack the complex, nourishing components of your own natural tears. For those with more severe conditions, this temporary relief is often not enough to heal the underlying damage to the eye's surface.
Autologous Serum Tears are made from the serum portion of your blood, which is obtained after the blood is processed to separate the serum from red blood cells and clotting factors. The serum is then diluted with sterile saline to create eye drops at the optimal concentration for your condition.
This formulation closely mimics the composition of natural tears. It contains essential growth factors, proteins, vitamins, and nutrients that not only lubricate the eyes but also help promote healing of the ocular surface. Unlike artificial tears, Autologous Serum Tears are completely natural and tailored to your body’s needs, offering more than just temporary symptom relief, they support your body’s healing processes.
The use of serum tears in eye care is not new; it dates back to 1975, when it was first used to treat chemical burns. For decades, it has been a trusted treatment option for a variety of challenging ocular surface diseases. It is considered a safe and effective therapy for patients who have not found success with more conventional treatments, offering a way to promote healing and restore comfort.
The biggest advantage of serum tears is their composition. Unlike artificial tears, they contain a wealth of biological nutrients that are essential for the health of the cornea (the front surface of the eye). These include:
While artificial tears can provide a temporary moisture barrier, they do not actively heal the eye. Serum tears do. The presence of growth factors, vitamins, and proteins promotes cell repair and regeneration, which is critical for healing damages on the ocular surface that other treatments may only cover up. The growth factors and nutrients in your own serum help to repair damaged epithelial cells on the cornea and support the regeneration of delicate corneal nerves. This means they treat the damage caused by dry eye, rather than just masking the symptoms.
Many commercial eye drops contain preservatives that can be irritating to an already sensitive eye, especially with frequent use. Autologous serum tears are completely natural and preservative-free. Because they are made from your own blood, there is virtually no risk of an allergic reaction or rejection, making them an incredibly safe option for long-term use.
Because these drops are made from your own blood, they are perfectly suited to your body’s biochemistry, reducing the risk of allergic reactions or side effects.
Whether you are dealing with severe dry eyes, complications from ocular surgeries, or chronic conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome, these drops aim to tackle the root causes of your discomfort, providing effective and lasting relief.
Our eye doctors typically recommends serum tears for patients with moderate to severe dry eye who have not found adequate relief from other treatments. If you have diligently tried artificial tears, punctal plugs, prescription medications like Restasis or Xiidra, and other therapies without success, you may be an ideal candidate for this advanced, personalized treatment.
Individuals suffering from chronic dry eyes, especially those whose symptoms do not improve with artificial tears, are ideal candidates. This condition often involves insufficient tear production or poor-quality tears, causing irritation, redness, and discomfort.
This condition affects the oil glands in the eyelids, which are essential for maintaining tear quality. Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) often experience dry eye symptoms that can be alleviated with autologous serum tears.
A significant number of severe dry eye cases are linked to systemic autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Lupus. In these conditions, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, including the glands responsible for producing tears. This leads to a chronic and inflammatory state of dry eye that can be challenging to manage with over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Autologous serum eye drops provide a unique advantage for this patient population. The serum contains a natural concentration of anti-inflammatory proteins and immunoglobulins that can help to quell the localized autoimmune response on the ocular surface. Furthermore, the presence of key nutrients like epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibronectin, and Vitamin A in the serum directly supports the regeneration and maintenance of a healthy corneal surface. For patients with autoimmune-related dry eye, these personalized drops offer a more holistic approach to treatment by not only providing lubrication but also by fostering a healing environment that can lead to a significant improvement in both signs and symptoms.
Patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can sometimes develop a serious complication known as Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD), where the donor's immune cells attack the recipient's body. When GVHD affects the eyes, it can lead to a severe and persistent form of dry eye that is often resistant to standard treatments like artificial tears and anti-inflammatory drops. For these individuals, autologous serum eye drops can be a sight-saving intervention. By providing these vital components directly to the ocular surface, autologous serum helps to reduce inflammation, promote the healing of epithelial defects, and alleviate the debilitating symptoms of dryness, pain, and light sensitivity associated with ocular GVHD.
It is common to experience temporary but significant dry eye after surgeries like LASIK, PRK, or even corneal transplants. In these cases, the healing properties of serum tears are invaluable. They can help to accelerate the healing of the corneal surface and nerves, leading to a faster and more comfortable recovery period.
Patients with corneal surface issues that frequently break down, causing pain and discomfort, can benefit from autologous serum tears. The drops promote healing and support the corneal epithelial layer.
A rare autoimmune condition that can cause dry eye symptoms and scarring of the ocular surface. Autologous serum tears can help manage the inflammation and support healing in OCP patients.
When corneal cells do not heal properly, leading to chronic defects, autologous serum tears offer a personalized and effective treatment to promote healing and restore the ocular surface.
Herpes simplex infections of the cornea can lead to chronic inflammation and dryness. Autologous serum tears are beneficial in reducing symptoms and supporting healing in these cases.
Characterized by persistent rubbing of the eyes to remove mucus, this condition leads to eye irritation and damage. Autologous serum tears can help alleviate dryness and support the healing of the ocular surface.
Autologous serum tears (AST) are a promising treatment for people with severe Dry Eye Disease (DED) who don’t get relief from regular eye drops. While more research is needed, studies show AST could work better than traditional treatments like eye lubricants or cyclosporine A drops.
A Cochrane review published in 2021 evaluated 29 studies on the use of autologous serum tears for DED treatment, ultimately including five studies that met their inclusion criteria. The review found that AST led to short-term improvements in symptoms when compared with traditional tear substitutes. However, the analysis noted that the high heterogeneity among studies and a lack of quantitative reporting made it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Despite these challenges, AST appears to offer some benefit in symptom management, though additional randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are necessary to confirm these findings.
Historically, autologous serum tears were prepared in a non-sterile manner by clinicians or in compounding pharmacies, which led to concerns about safety and efficacy. However, recent advances in preparation techniques, including standardized centrifugation and dilution methods, have improved the consistency and sterility of serum tears. These improvements have facilitated their wider use in clinical practice, particularly in specialized centers where serum tears are prepared under sterile conditions and shipped under refrigeration to patients.
A more recent meta-analysis of seven RCTs confirmed that autologous serum tears offer superior efficacy compared to conventional tear supplements in terms of both patient-reported symptoms and objective clinical signs of ocular surface disease (OSD). This analysis demonstrated significant improvement in tear production, corneal staining, and ocular surface integrity after using AST, further supporting its role as a more effective treatment for DED than traditional substitutes.
In a review of 10 studies, the American Academy of Ophthalmology found that 8 studies met high-quality standards, demonstrating that serum tears improved both symptoms and at least one objective sign of dry eye disease. These results were consistent with previous findings and reinforced the utility of autologous serum tears in cases where conventional treatments fail.
In their task force report, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) included autologous serum tears in their treatment algorithm for patients with ocular dryness resistant to ocular lubricants and CsA. This recommendation underscores the growing recognition of serum tears as a viable treatment option, particularly in cases of severe or refractory DED.
The Preferred Practice Patterns report from India concluded that autologous serum tears were effective for managing DED, though it emphasized the need for standardized preparation methods to ensure safety and consistency. This highlights the ongoing need for global standardization in the preparation of serum tears for widespread clinical adoption.
Proper administration of autologous serum tears is key to obtaining the best results. Regular follow-up appointments with our eye doctors are crucial. These check-ups allow us to monitor your progress, adjust dosages if needed, and make sure you’re getting the maximum benefit from your treatment. Our eye doctors will guide you through the following steps:
Contact one of the top optometrists or ophthalmologists listed with Specialty Vision to see if Autologous Serum Tears are the right solution for your dry eye condition. Schedule a consultation today to explore this personalized treatment option!
Our eye doctors will prescribe a specific dosing schedule based on your needs, which can range from two to eight times per day, or sometimes more frequently in severe cases. The initial treatment usually begins with a specific concentration that may be adjusted as your symptoms improve.
Carefully wash your hands before each use to ensure the dropper remains free of contaminants then gently shake the vial. When applying the drops, tilt your head back, gently pull down your lower eyelid, and squeeze one drop into your eye. Closing your eyes for a minute can help the solution spread evenly across the surface of the eye. It is important not to touch the dropper tip to your eye or any other surface to avoid contamination.
Proper storage is absolutely essential to maintain the safety and effectiveness of your serum tears. Your main supply of vials must be kept frozen solid until you are ready to use them. A frozen supply can last for up to six months. When you are ready to start a new vial, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator to thaw. A thawed, refrigerated vial must be used within one week to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.
To ensure the beneficial serum stays on your eye for as long as possible, we recommend closing your eye for about a minute after instilling the drop. You can also gently press your finger on the inner corner of your eye (near your nose) to block the tear duct. This technique, called punctal occlusion, prevents the drop from draining away too quickly.
In some cases, a specialized ocular insert may be used to deliver serum tears to the eye in a more controlled manner, particularly for patients with severe dry eye or those unable to perform drop instillation.
A thorough evaluation by our eye doctors is the first step, ensuring that autologous serum eye drops are the right treatment based on the patient's specific symptoms and condition. If we determine that serum tears are the right treatment for you, we will write a prescription. This prescription will specify the concentration of the serum, which is typically between 20% and 50% depending on the severity of your condition. We will also determine the recommended frequency of use.
The next step is a simple blood draw, much like you would have for a routine lab test. A small amount of your blood is drawn by a trained and licensed phlebotomist. To make this process as convenient as possible, this can often be done at our office, a nearby lab, or even in your own home by a mobile phlebotomy service.
Your blood sample is then sent to a specialized compounding pharmacy. There, the blood is placed in a centrifuge, a machine that spins at high speed to separate the blood components. The clear, nutrient-rich serum is carefully extracted. This serum is then diluted with a sterile, preservative-free saline solution to the exact concentration prescribed by our eye doctors.
The final custom-made solution is filtered for sterility and packaged into many small, individual dropper vials. The entire supply, which is typically enough for three to six months, is then frozen to maintain freshness and potency. The pharmacy will then arrange for you to pick up your frozen eye drops, or they can be delivered directly to you.
Autologous serum eye drops are a therapeutic treatment, not an instant cure. The timeline for improvement can vary significantly from one patient to another, depending on the severity of the underlying condition. While some patients report an immediate soothing sensation, the true healing process takes time. Consistency in using the drops as prescribed is the key to achieving the best possible results.
Many patients begin to notice a significant improvement in their dry eye symptoms, such as reduced burning and grittiness, within the first two weeks of regular use. During this time, the growth factors and vitamins in the serum are beginning to repair the damaged cells on the surface of your cornea.
The full therapeutic benefits of serum tears are often seen after about six to eight weeks of consistent use. It is during this period that the cumulative effects of reduced inflammation and cellular healing become most apparent. Our eye doctors will schedule regular follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.
Because serum tears are preservative-free and derived from a biological material, the primary risk is bacterial contamination of an open vial. This is why strict adherence to storage and handling instructions is so important. A contaminated drop could lead to a serious eye infection. Never use a refrigerated vial for more than a week, and always discard it if the dropper tip becomes contaminated.
A significant barrier for many patients is that autologous serum eye drops are not FDA-approved as a manufactured drug, and therefore are not covered by medical insurance. The process of a blood draw, and sterile preparation at a compounding pharmacy is a custom service. The out-of-pocket cost for a several-month supply can range from approximately $400 to $900, which can be a difficult but worthwhile investment for those with severe disease.
Autologous Serum Tears mimic natural tears by providing lubrication and promoting healing of the eye surface. The serum contains essential growth factors and proteins that repair damaged eye tissue, reduce inflammation, and restore tear film stability, making them effective for chronic dry eye and other serious eye conditions.
Unlike traditional artificial tears, Autologous Serum Tears are made from the patient’s own blood, making them preservative-free and much closer in composition to natural tears. They contain nutrients and growth factors like vitamin A, albumin, and epidermal growth factors, which are essential for eye healing and reducing inflammation.
Patients may begin to notice improvement in symptoms within 2 weeks of starting the therapy. However, significant results usually occur after 6-8 weeks of regular use. Each patient's response may vary depending on their condition and overall health.
Since Autologous Serum Tears are made from the patient’s own blood, they typically cause minimal side effects. Some patients may experience mild irritation or redness, but these symptoms are usually temporary. It's important to follow storage instructions carefully to avoid contamination.
Contact one of the top optometrists or ophthalmologists listed with Specialty Vision to see if Autologous Serum Tears are the right solution for your dry eye condition. Schedule a consultation today to explore this personalized treatment option!
Autologous Serum Tears provide a natural and effective treatment for dry eye patients. Find a top optometrist near you to learn more.
