Korean J Ophthalmol.  2016 Apr;30(2):101-107. 10.3341/kjo.2016.30.2.101.

Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma Eye Drops in the Treatment of Recurrent Corneal Erosions

• Lee JH
• Kim MJ
• Ha SW
• Kim HK

• KMID: 2160459
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2016.30.2.101

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) eye drops in the treatment of recurrent corneal erosions (RCE).
METHODS
A total of 47 eyes were included in this retrospective study. Clinical records of 20 consecutive patients with RCE who had been treated with conventional lubricant eye drops (conventional treatment group) from June 2006 to December 2008 and 27 consecutive patients treated with autologous PRP eye drops in addition to lubricant eye drops (PRP eye drops treated group) from January 2009 to September 2014 were reviewed. Major and minor recurrences were recorded and compared between two groups.
RESULTS
This study included 31 men and 16 women. The mean age was 44.5 ± 14.5 years (range, 19 to 86 years), and the mean follow-up duration was 14.9 ± 14.4 months (range, 6 to 64 months). Of the 27 cases in the PRP eye drops treated group, there were seven major recurrences in six eyes (22.2%) and ten minor recurrences in seven eyes (25.9%). In contrast, 16 eyes (80.0%) from the 20 patients in the conventional lubricant eye drops treated group had major recurrences, and all patients in this group reported minor recurrences. The mean frequency of recurrence was 0.06 ± 0.08 per month in the PRP eye drops treated group and 0.39 ± 0.24 per month in the conventional treatment group (p = 0.003). No side effects were noted in any of the patients over the follow-up period.
CONCLUSIONS
The use of PRP eye drops for the treatment of RCE was shown to be effective in reducing the recurrence rate without any significant complications.

Keyword

Autologous serum; Corneal epithelium; Ophthalmic solutions; Platelet-rich plasma; Recurrent corneal erosions

MeSH Terms

Epithelium, Corneal
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Ophthalmic Solutions*
Platelet-Rich Plasma*
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Ophthalmic Solutions

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Diagram of the treatment protocols of the (A) conventional treatment group and (B) platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment group.

• 

  Fig. 2 Slit-lamp photographs (A) and fluorescein staining (B) in a patient with major recurrence of erosions, which showed definitive loosely-adherent epithelium with macrocystic epithelial detachment.

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  Fig. 3 Slit-lamp photographs (A) and fluorescein staining (B) in a patient with minor recurrence. Microcystic epithelial irregularities were observed without definitive epithelial defect.

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