title: Long-term follow up of autologous serum treatment for recurrent corneal erosions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate long-term results of autologous serum treatment for recurrent corneal erosions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective single-centre study, 33 eyes of 33 patients (21 male and 12 female) were treated with autologous serum eye drops for recurrent corneal erosions. Mean age of the patients was 49.3 ± 9.8 standard deviation (range 24-73) years. All subjects had failed to respond to other treatments. Autologous serum drops were administered for a 6-month period: six times daily for the first 3 months and four times daily for the remaining 3 months. Detailed informed consent was obtained from the entire patient group before the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up period was 30 ± 6.3 standard deviation (range 12-48) months. None of the patients experienced a recurrence while under treatment. Twenty-eight patients (85%) had complete healing of erosions with no relapses of the disease over the whole follow-up period. Five patients (15%) presented a single recurrence 3-12 months after the end of the treatment. No sight-threatening complications were reported over the follow up. There was no statistically significant difference in the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity values (t(stat) = 2.1, F = 0.096, degree of freedom = 40,166, P < 0.41) or in the intraocular pressure measurements (P < 0.38) between the pre- and post-treatment patient groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autologous serum drops proved to be a safe and efficient treatment modality for patients with recurrent corneal erosion syndrome as observed through a long-term follow up.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Ophthalmology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. nikolasziakas@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Nikolaos G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Ziakas
authors.forename: Konstantinos G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Boboridis
authors.forename: Chryssa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terzidou
authors.forename: Tatiana L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Naoumidi
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mikropoulos
authors.forename: Eirini N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Georgiadou
authors.forename: Nick S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Georgiadis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012008:Recurrence; D044967:Serum; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions