Pro-re-nata regimen of autologous platelet-rich plasma injections for treatment of dry eyes: A pilot study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To study the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma injections (PRPi) in treatment of dry eyes.Methods This prospective, interventional study was conducted at a tertiary-eye care centre, India. 160 eyes of 80 patients with newly diagnosed dry eyes were included. One eye received PRPi (cases = 80 eyes) and the other eye of the patient received a lubricating drop (control = 80 eyes). Cases who did not improve at 1-month follow-up were reinjected with PRP. The outcomes were measured on the basis of ocular surface disease index (OSDI), Schirmer’s test (ST), non-invasive tear breakup time (NIBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), and ocular surface staining score (OSS) done at baseline, 1-month, 2-months, 3-months and 6-months follow-up (FU).Results 60 cases showed significant improvement in all the outcome measures at 1-month (p < 0.001), when compared to controls; whereas 20 cases had to undergo repeat injections. On FU at 2-months, 16 cases (out of those 20 cases) showed a significant improvement (p < 0.05); while 4 cases still did not improve clinically at 3-months. All the outcome parameters (ST, NIBUT, TMH and OSS, OSDI scores) maintained a significant improvement at 6-months FU, including those 4 cases (p < 0.001). All the patients were highly satisfied with the intervention.Conclusion PRPi, as a monotherapy given on pro-re-nata (PRN) basis, is a simple and efficacious modality of treatment in dry eyes; verified by improvement in subjective and objective tear-film parameters.