ESCRS - P186 - AUTOLOGOUS PLATELET‐RICH PLASMA DROPS FOR THE TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY MODERATE-TO-SEVERE EVAPORATIVE DRY EYE DISEASE FROM MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION

AUTOLOGOUS PLATELET‐RICH PLASMA DROPS FOR THE TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY MODERATE-TO-SEVERE EVAPORATIVE DRY EYE DISEASE FROM MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION

Published 2022 - 26th ESCRS Winter Meeting

Reference: P186 | Type: Abstracts | DOI: 10.82333/5ae8-td74

Authors: Fahmeeda Murtaza* 1 , Hannah H Chiu 2 , Eric S Tam 2 , Sohel Somani 2

1Faculty of Medicine,University of Toronto,Toronto,Canada, 2Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences,University of Toronto,Toronto,Canada;Clinical Research,Uptown Eye Specialists,Toronto,Canada

Purpose

 
To evaluate the effects of autologous platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) drops in patients with moderate-to-severe evaporative dry eye (EDE) from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

 

Setting

This is a retrospective, consecutive case series of 20 eyes of 10 patients with moderate-to-severe refractory EDE from MGD treated with PRP at a single outpatient clinic in Ontario, Canada from November 2020 to April 2021. 

Methods

Approximately 11ml of PRP drops were prepared from 22ml of whole blood using a two-step centrifugation method. Patients were instructed to instill the drops six times daily for 4 weeks. The Canadian Dry Eye Assessment (CDEA) questionnaire score, patient subjective assessment (PSA) score, first and average non-invasive keratograph tear break-up times (NIKBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), bulbar redness (BR), and meibograph grade (MG) were measured before and after the 4-week treatment course.

Results

Significant improvements in dry eye symptoms and functional dry eye outcomes were observed. Dry eye symptoms decreased from 19.78 ± 9.62 to 12.08 ± 7.40 (CDEA, p<0.001) and from 7.65 ± 1.74 to 4.77 ± 2.03 (PSA, p<0.001). First and average NIKBUTs increased from 5.30 ± 2.79s to 9.15 ± 5.54s and from 4.43 ± 4.46s to 11.24 ± 5.34s, respectively (p=0.001). TMH increased from 0.26 ± 0.19mm to 0.34 ± 0.18mm (p=0.005). BR decreased from 1.38 ± 0.49 to 1.02 ± 0.37 (p=0.008). Five eyes experienced a one-grade improvement in MG scores (p=0.096), and none of the eyes experienced worsening in MG with treatment. No temporary or permanent adverse effects were noted.

Conclusion

Four weeks of PRP therapy resulted in significant functional improvements in tear film quality and quantity, conjunctival injection, and dry eye symptoms. Structural improvements in meibomian glands were also observed in some eyes. Overall, PRP is an effective treatment option for patients with EDE from MGD who have failed to respond to conventional treatments.