Comparison of Autologous Serum Eye Drops with Different Diluents.

Purpose: To compare the effect of autologous serum eye drops with different diluents in patients with dry eyes and persistent epithelial defects. Methods: Patients of Sjögren's syndrome (Group I), non-Sjögren's syndrome (group II) with dry eye, and persistent epithelial defects (Group III) were included. The eyes of each group were randomly treated with one of the following autologous serum eye drops: 100% serum (AS100), 50% serum with normal saline (AS50NS); 50% serum with sodium hyaluronate (AS50HA); or 50% serum with ceftazidime (AS50CEF). The differences in dry eye symptoms, Schirmer test I, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal staining, and speed in epithelial healing were studied. Results: In Group I, AS100 showed fewer symptoms than AS50NS, AS50HA and AS50CEF (all p < 0.01). AS100 showed significantly better effect than AS50NS, AS50HA and AS50CEF in decreasing corneal staining at the time point of 12-week post-treatment ( p = 0.041, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). In Group II, AS100 was more effective than AS50CEF in decreasing symptoms and decreasing corneal staining (all p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in symptom and corneal staining between AS100 and AS50NS. In Group III, AS100 was the most effective in achieving quick epithelial closure. Conclusion: In the eyes with Sjögren syndrome and persistent epithelial defects, AS100 was the most effective in decreasing symptoms, corneal epitheliopathy and promoting fast closure of wound. In the eyes with non-Sjögren syndrome, AS100 and AS50NS have similar effects in decreasing symptoms and corneal epitheliopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]