Letters to the Editor
Dry eye: serum eye drops
- Phillip Mondy
- Aust Prescr 2019;42:4
- 1 February 2019
- DOI: 10.18773/austprescr.2019.008
ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY
Letter to the Editor
The recent article on dry eye suggested that autologous serum eye drops, for the treatment of refractory cases, are only available in hospitals.1 However, autologous serum eye drops are manufactured by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service for compassionate supply in the eastern Australian states. Production also occurs via Cell and Tissues Therapies WA and other services.
After referral from an ophthalmologist, suitable patients can have their blood collected at a blood donor centre. In-hospital collection by the Blood Service, usually in the outpatient setting, is reserved for patients with significant co-morbidity.
Limited data were available on Australian patients with dry eye treated with serum eye drops so the Blood Service performed a prospective questionnaire study.2 Significant improvements in symptom frequency and severity were reported for dryness, ocular pain and grittiness at two and 12 months. These findings support other evidence of autologous serum eye drops as a well-tolerated treatment for dry eye and corneal epithelial defects in patients failing other therapies.3
Phillip Mondy
Haematologist
Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Acknowledgment: This letter was written with the approval and on behalf of Phillip Mondy’s co-authors.2
The author and co-authors have been employed by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, which provides autologous serum eye drops on a compassionate basis.
References
- Findlay Q, Reid K. Dry eye disease: when to treat and when to refer. Aust Prescr 2018;41:160-3.
- Mondy P, Brama T, Fisher J, Gemelli CN, Chee K, Keegan A, et al. Sustained benefits of autologous serum eye drops on self-reported ocular symptoms and vision-related quality of life in Australian patients with dry eye and corneal epithelial defects. Transfus Apher Sci 2015;53:404-11.
- Jones L, Downie LE, Korb D, Benitez-Del-Castillo JM, Dana R, Deng SX, et al. TFOS DEWS II management and therapy report. Ocul Surf 2017;15:575-628.
The Editorial Executive Committee welcomes letters, which should be less than 250 words. Before a decision to publish is made, letters which refer to a published article may be sent to the author for a response. Any letter may be sent to an expert for comment. When letters are published, they are usually accompanied in the same issue by any responses or comments. The Committee screens out discourteous, inaccurate or libellous statements. The letters are sub-edited before publication. Authors are required to declare any conflicts of interest. The Committee's decision on publication is final.
Phillip Mondy
Haematologist, Australian Red Cross Blood Service
