ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of autologous serum on the rate of epithelial healing and clinical results after laser epithelial keratectomy (LASEK) for correction of myopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty eyes of 15 patients received autologous serum drops (Study Group) while 30 eyes of 15 patients received conventional artificial tears (Control Group) after LASEK. LASEK was performed with 25-second application of 18% alcohol. Laser ablation was performed with the ESIRIS excimer laser (SCHWIND, Kleinostheim, Germany). Patients were seen daily until epithelial closure, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Time to epithelial healing was the main outcome measure. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), manifest refraction, and haze were recorded. RESULTS: Preoperative myopic spherical equivalent refraction was -2.98 ± 1.13 diopters (D) in the study group and -2.65 ± 1.01 D in the control group (p = 0.264). The mean time to epithelial healing was about 1 day shorter in the eyes receiving autologous serum than the eyes receiving conventional treatment (2.78 ± 0.40 days versus 3.73 ± 0.58 days, respectively) (p = 0.001). All eyes achieved 20/25 or better UCVA at 6 months. Over 90% of eyes were within ±0.50 D of emmetropia at 12 months in both groups. No significant difference was noted in the incidence of haze. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous serum eye drops seem to accelerate epithelial healing after LASEK, which may shorten the duration of early postoperative discomfort by about 1 day.
