Autologous Serum Eye Drops Combined With Silicone Hydrogen Lenses for the Treatment of Postinfectious Corneal Persistent Epithelial Defects

Abstract

The combined use of silicone hydrogel CLs and ASEs can successfully treat postinfectious corneal PEDs and prevent continuous corneal melting during acute disease.

Therapeutic outcomes of combined topical autologous serum eye drops with silicone–hydrogel soft contact lenses in the treatment of corneal persistent epithelial defects: A preliminary study

“…The application of bandage contact lens can help these patients open their eyes and function normally [27]. Combining the epitheliotrophic effects of autologous serum and the mechanical benefits of newer hydrogel SCLs is likely to have synergetic effects on corneal epithelial wound healing, especially for recalcitrant corneal epithelial defects [3,4,6,27]. In the present study, we found that none of the patients in the continued ASE use group had epithelial defect recurrence while half of the patients (five eyes, 50%) without continued ASE use had epithelial defect recurrence during follow-up.…”

“…For patients with corneal PEDs after infectious corneal ulcers, corneal scrapings for culture were obtained and the corneal ulcers were initially managed with topical antibiotic eye drops until the infiltrates resolved without active infection noted and repeat corneal cultures showed negative results. However, the lesions failed to epithelialize with progressive corneal stromal melting observed despite conventional therapeutic modalities [4]. All patients were informed regarding the advantages, disadvantages, and potential side effects of this modality, as well as the possible risks of the procedure and informed consents have been obtained from the participants.…”

“…Over the past several years, autologous serum eye drops (ASEs) are gaining popular and widespread acceptance as adjuvant therapy for various ocular surface disorders, including PEDs recalcitrant to standard medical therapies [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. The combination of BCLs and ASEs for PEDs treatment have also been reported with satisfactory results in a few small series' of PED patients [3,4,6]. However, the aforementioned studies included only a very small number of patients and head to head comparison of post-treatment follow-up for epithelial defect recurrence in patients with immediate ASE cessation and continued use ASE for 2 weeks is lacking.…”

“…PEDs can occur following exposure to toxic agents, mechanical injury, ocular surface infections, or various underlying diseases, such as dry eye, limbal stem cell deficiency, neurotrophic keratitis, and so on, which can be very difficult to treat [2][3][4]. PEDs sometimes result in severe visual impairment and may ultimately lead to corneal blindness.…”

“…PEDs sometimes result in severe visual impairment and may ultimately lead to corneal blindness. Bandage contact lenses (BCLs), especially siliconehydrogel soft contact lenses (SCLs) with high oxygen permeability and transmissibility, are useful for treating PEDs [3][4][5][6]. Over the past several years, autologous serum eye drops (ASEs) are gaining popular and widespread acceptance as adjuvant therapy for various ocular surface disorders, including PEDs recalcitrant to standard medical therapies [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”