Effects of Platelet-rich Plasma on Ocular Surface in Patients with Dry Eye Syndrome: Clinico-experimental Analysis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE@#To evaluate the effect of platelet rich plasma (PRP) on ocular surface damage caused by hyperosmotic conditions using retrospective clinical and experimental analyses.@*METHODS@#Eighty eyes of moderate dry eye syndrome patients who had no responses using conventional treatments were included in the study. Before and 1, 3, and 6 months after the use of autologous PRP, the visual acuity, intraocular pressure, tear break-up time (TBUT), ocular staining score (OSS), and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were compared. The changes in inflammatory factors of ocular surface cells were analyzed using a corneo-limbal epithelial cell culture and a hyperosmotic stress experimental model.@*RESULTS@#Using retrospective clinical analyses, in 64 eyes (80%) after the use of autologous PRP, the symptom scores and symptoms were significantly reduced in the OSDI questionnaire when compared with the symptom scores and symptoms before treatment. The TBUT and OSS, which were objective indicators showed a significant increase of TBUT and significant decrease of OSS in 68 eyes (85%) and 72 eyes (90%), respectively. The expression of inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-3 decreased in corneo-limbal epithelial cells under hyperosmotic conditions when PRP was added.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The use of autologous PRP showed significant improvement before and after treatment in the TBUT, OSS, symptom scores and symptoms, and OSDI. In addition, anti-inflammatory effects were demonstrated in hyperosmotic models simulating dry eye syndrome. Therefore, autologous PRP could be used effectively for the treatment of moderate dry eye syndrome.