title: Autologous Serum Eye Drops Combined With Silicone Hydrogen Lenses for the Treatment of Postinfectious Corneal Persistent Epithelial Defects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical effect of combined topical autologous serum eye drops (ASEs) and silicone hydrogel contact lens (CLs) for the treatment of corneal persistent epithelial defects (PEDs) after infectious corneal ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective chart review of 12 patients with postinfectious corneal PEDs who were unsuccessfully treated with conventional medical management and were then treated with combined topical 20% (v/v) ASEs and silicone hydrogel CLs from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2014. The corneal ulcers were all initially managed with antibiotic eye drops until the infiltrates resolved but the lesions failed to epithelialize. The clinical effects of the combined treatment were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PEDs healed in all 12 patients within 2 weeks. The combined treatment was associated with an improvement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the final 3-month follow-up examination. All patients responded well to the combined treatment and no adverse events were noted in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined use of silicone hydrogel CLs and ASEs can successfully treat postinfectious corneal PEDs and prevent continuous corneal melting during acute disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology (W.-Y.W., Y.-K.L., S.-H.T., Y.-C.L., Y.-M.C.), E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and Department of Ophthalmology (Y.-M.C.), National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Kuei
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shih-Hao
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yen-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yan-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D062326:Re-Epithelialization; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D044967:Serum; D012826:Silicone Elastomers
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D020100:Hydrogels; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012826:Silicone Elastomers