AUTOLOGOUS SERUM EYE DROPS

Use and effect

This type of treatment is used for a wide variety of diseases Cornea of the eye concern for use. This can be done with dry eyes (Sicca syndrome), Corneal ulcer, as well as for transplanted corneas.
They are used when the superficial layer of the cornea has small defects that do not heal well.
Possible causes of such defects include:

dry eyes

Corneal inflammation or

recurring Corneal abrasions and

Astigmatism.

The autologous serum eye drops represent an alternative for otherwise therapy-resistant corneal problems of the type mentioned above. They promote the regeneration of the Cornea and thus accelerate the healing of ulcers, moisten the eyes with endogenous substances and care for the cornea.
Some of these substances are listed below:

Growth factors

Vitamin A

Fibronectin (a protein).

These components are also found in human tear fluid. In the serum, however, the concentration is many times higher.

Manufacturing

With the autologous serum eye drops, the patient's own blood is taken

To the eye drop To be able to produce, blood must be drawn from the patient. Usually it is 50 to 70 ml Blood. This blood is examined in specially certified laboratories. The essential step in making these drops is that Centrifugation of the blood. This is how the serum separates from the solid components of the blood, such as red and white Blood cells, from.

The prerequisite for the use of autologous serum eye drops is that the autologous blood is free from infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV is. This is checked by laboratory tests before the first use.
If one of the above infections is present, the eye drops must not be made or used. The patient's blood is also incubated and examined for germs with every further blood sample. Because even if a patient does not feel sick, the first pathogens can already be in the blood. These investigations cause the long manufacturing time.

The drops must be stored in a cool place and can only be kept for 14 days.

Just a few Centers in Germany (Mainz, Homburg or Munich) offer this type of treatment. The majority of patients report convincingly good progress and results. The first successes are observed after different periods of time.

The disadvantage, however, is not only the short shelf life but also the not entirely inconsiderable time and cost expenditure.
Each of these manufacturing processes costs around around 100 eurosthat are not from the statutory health insurance be taken over.

application

The autologous serum eye drops can be used very differently on an individual basis. Some patients use the drops very often, others only a few times a day. This can be decided quite independently by the patient. The drops have a nourishing effect and can therefore be dosed as required.