Effect Of Autologous Serum Eye Drops In Patients With Contact Lens-Induced Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency: Clinical And Pentacam-Based Tomographic Outcomes
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POCAT136 | Type: Poster | DOI: 10.82333/7y1x-2196
Authors: Dr Dohyeon An* 1 , Dr Jaejung Kim 1 , Dr Joo-Ye Park 1 , Dr Ji-Yun Song 1 , Prof. Dr Yong-Soo Byun 1 , Prof. Dr Hyun-Seung Kim 1 , Prof. Dr So-Hyang Chung 1
1Ophthalmology,The Catholic University of Korea,Seoul,Korea, Republic Of
Purpose
To evaluate clinical and tomographic outcomes of autologous serum eye drops (ASED) in patients with contact lens–induced limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) using consensus-based LSCD staging and Scheimpflug-derived corneal aberration parameters.
Setting
Retrospective study based on medical records, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Methods
This retrospective study included 14 eyes of 11 patients with contact lens–induced LSCD treated with ASED between 2017 and 2025. Primary outcomes were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and LSCD stage at 3 months. LSCD stage was graded according to the global consensus classification. Secondary outcomes included Scheimpflug-derived corneal aberrations measured using the Pentacam (OCULUS, Wetzlar, Germany), including Peak-to-Valley, root mean square (RMS) total aberration, RMS high-order aberration (HOA), vertical coma, and spherical aberration. Paired tests and generalized estimating equations were used.
Results
Mean BCVA improved from 0.65 ± 0.41 to 0.51 ± 0.46 logMAR at 3 months (mean change −0.14 ± 0.22; P = 0.032). BCVA improved in 64.3% of eyes. Median LSCD stage decreased from 5.0 (IQR 5.0–6.0) to 4.0 (IQR 1.0–5.0) (P = 0.0027), with improvement in 76.9% of eyes and no progression. Scheimpflug analysis demonstrated significant longitudinal reductions in Peak-to-Valley and absolute vertical coma (P < 0.05). RMS total and RMS HOA showed decreasing trends without statistical significance.
Conclusions
Autologous serum eye drops led to significant short-term improvement in visual acuity and consensus-based LSCD stage in contact lens–induced LSCD. Objective reductions in selected corneal aberration parameters suggest that Scheimpflug-derived metrics may serve as adjunctive tools for monitoring ocular surface recovery. ASED may represent an effective non-surgical therapeutic option in this potentially reversible condition.