Eye platelet-rich plasma (E-PRP) for the treatment of different pathologies of the ocular surface

Session Details

Session Title: Cornea Medical

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 16/09/2014 | 14:00-16:00

Paper Time: 14:30

Venue: Capital Hall A

First Author: : M.ELBAHRAWY SPAIN

Co Author(s): :    J. Alio   A. Rodriguez   D. Wróbel-Dudzińska        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Blood derived products such as E-PRP have demonstrated their capacity to enhance healing and stimulate the regeneration in ocular surface disorders and this enhancing effect is attributed to the growth factors and bioactive proteins that are synthesized and present in blood. Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a portion of the plasma fraction from the patients own blood and has been used for many years in Ophthalmology to treat different ocular surface disorders. The objective of this work is to show the clinical results after using this treatment in a large number of patients.

Setting:

This work analyses the clinical outcome of 557 patients treated with E-PRP in different formulations (eyedrops, clot or fibrin membrane) at VISSUM Corporation Alicante.

Methods:

Preparation of E-PRP in the three available formulations; eyedrops, clot or fibrin membrane, is inexpensive and easy although it requires following strict sterility conditions using sterile and disposable materials and operating inside a laminar flow hood. E-PRP was given topically as eyedrops (4–6 times per day) for 6 weeks up to 3 months to patients with dry eye, corneal ulcers and ocular surface syndrome (OSS). All the patients were evaluated before the treatment, after 6 weeks and 3 months. E-PRP was given topically as eyedrops (4–6 times per day) for 6 weeks up to 3 months. The evaluation consisted of an ophthalmological examination, including corrected visual acuity, slit lamp examination, staining of the anterior segment with fluorescein. The evaluation for the patients with dry eye and ocular surface syndrome post Lasik included evaluation of subjective symptoms, tear meniscus height, visual acuity and conjunctival hyperaemia.

Results:

From 557 patients studied, 343 were suffering from Dry eye, 80 presented Ocular surface syndrome (OSS) post Lasik, 65 had Corneal Epithelial defect (CED) and 69 of them Neurotrophic ulcer. There were no contamination and side effects, because E-PRP was generated from the patient’s own blood and it was preservatives free. In Dry eye patients the subjective symptoms improved on 89% of the cases, the fluorescein staining improved on 83%, tear meniscus on 72%, and hyperaemia on 84%. Only the 30% of this patients gained lines of vision while 64% presented no change. Patients with OSS treated with autologous E-PRP gained lines of vision (47%), improved fluorescein staining (88%), increased tear meniscus (74%) and decreased hyperaemia (92%). Subjective symptoms improved on 85% of the patients. Patients presenting Neurotrophic ulcer gained lines of vision (47%) and improved fluorescein staining (70%). Subjective symptoms improved on 97% of the patients. Patients with CED gained lines of vision (42%) and improved fluorescein staining (61%). Subjective symptoms improved on 89% of the patients.

Conclusions:

E-PRP provides a high concentration of essential growth factors and cell adhesion molecules promoting wound healing and enhancement the physiological process at the site of the injury/ surgery via eye drops. The use of 100% autologous E-PRP in these three available formulations (eyedrops, clot or fibrin membrane) was found to be a safe and effective therapeutic tool for ocular surface disorders such as Dry eye, Ocular surface syndrome post Lasik, corneal epithelial defects and neurotrophic ulcers.

Financial Interest:

NONE