Autologous serum eye drops for dry eye after LASIK.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of autologous serum eye drops for dry eye after LASIK in a prospective, randomized study.


METHODS
Fifty-four eyes of 27 male patients who underwent LASIK were divided into two groups; patients who used autologous serum eye drops and those who used artificial tears postoperatively. Schirmer test with anesthesia, tear break-up time (BUT), and rose bengal and fluorescein staining for the ocular surface were prospectively compared between the groups. All values were also compared before and after surgery (at 1 week [except for Schirmer test], 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months) in each group.


RESULTS
Tear BUT was greater in the autologous serum eye drops group than in the artificial tears group at 6 months postoperatively. Rose bengal score was lower in patients using autologous serum eye drops than in patients using artificial tears at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. No significant difference was noted between patients using autologous serum eye drops and patients using artificial tears in the value of Schirmer test with anesthesia and fluorescein scores. In the autologous serum eye drops group, tear BUT was increased at 3 months after LASIK, rose bengal score was lower at 1 month and 3 months, and fluorescein score was lower at 1 month after LASIK compared to preoperative values, respectively. In the artificial tears group, all values (Schirmer test, tear BUT, rose bengal score, and fluorescein score) showed no differences between before and after LASIK. No differences were noted in the subjective scores for dryness between the autologous serum eye drops and artificial tears groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The autologous serum eye drops group showed prolongation of the tear BUT and a reduction in rose bengal staining score.
Noda-Tsuruya
Tomoko
T
Minamiaoyama Eye Clinic, Tokyo, Japan.
Asano-Kato
Naoko
N
Toda
Ikuko
I
Tsubota
Kazuo
K
D000328:Adult; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019793:Fluorescein; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044967:Serum; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001798:Blood Proteins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D019793:Fluorescein