Ocular Surface Disease
Conditions
Keywords
Dry eye, Ocular surface, Autologous blood
Brief summary
In this study, we aim to determine the efficacy of autologous blood as an alternative to autologous serum eye drops (ASE) in people with severe dry eyes and ocular surface inflammation. ASE are drops manufactured from the patient's own blood. Perceived benefits are that human blood contains multiple components that are beneficial to healing and maintaining a healthy ocular surface, including epidermal growth factor, and transforming growth factor β, in addition to fibronectin, vitamin A, and various growth factors. We wish to assess whether administering autologous blood directly to their eye would also be an effective treatment in the management of severe dry eye. It will be the first study analysing the potential benefits of this relatively novel treatment in Scotland and will consider its role in treating an important debilitating condition.
Detailed description
The surface of the eye, including the cornea, is dependent on the tear film to protect it. An adequate tear film prevents epithelial breakdown, ulceration and secondary infection. The continual regeneration of the corneal epithelium is supported by various components that reside in human tears, such as growth factors, vitamins, electrolytes and neuropeptides. There are various ocular conditions that can lead to a deficiency in any of these tear constituents and can result in excessive surface dryness. This can lead to corneal surface breakdown, non-healing ulceration, secondary infection, globe perforation and sight loss, in addition to severe pain for patients, all of which can have a significant negative impact on a patient's quality of life. First line therapy in the treatment of tear deficiency is in the form of ocular lubricants. Multiple formulations are available in drop, gel and ointment form. Lubricants act as barriers in one form or another to protect the epithelial surface from mechanical trauma. However, in the presence of an unhealthy tear film or corneal epithelial surface, barrier protection alone is inadequate to promote surface regeneration and wound healing. Therefore, even the use of frequent and continual ocular lubricants may be of no benefit to patients with severe ocular surface disease (OSD). In this study, we aim to determine the efficacy of autologous blood as an alternative to autologous serum eye drops (ASE) in people with severe dry eyes and ocular surface inflammation. ASE are drops manufactured from the patient's own blood. Perceived benefits are that human blood contains multiple components that are beneficial to healing and maintaining a healthy ocular surface, including epidermal growth factor, and transforming growth factor β, in addition to fibronectin, vitamin A, and various growth factors. We wish to assess whether administering autologous blood directly to their eye would also be an effective treatment in the management of severe dry eye. It will be the first study analysing the potential benefits of this relatively novel treatment in Scotland and will consider its role in treating an important debilitating condition.
Interventions
OTHERAutologous blood applied to dry eye
See previous description for the study arm.
Sponsors
Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government
NHS Research Scotland
NHS Lanarkshire
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Cross sectional study
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Known dry eye and ocular surface disease with or without persistent epithelial defect. 2. No improvement in clinical condition after minimum of six months treatment with conventional ocular lubricants. 3. No improvement in clinical condition after treatment of all other potential sources of ocular surface disease, including localised and systemic inflammatory disease. 4. All topical treatments for dry eye and any other pre-existing ocular conditions are preservative free. 5. Patient has capacity to consent to participate in study and to be taught how to administer blood sample. 6. Patients aged between 18-100 years.
Exclusion criteria
1. Physical disability preventing patient performing needlestick blood sampling. 2. Concurrent ocular infection. 3. Globe perforation. 4. Patients with known blood borne infections. 5. Patients without capacity to consent to participate in the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ocular surface staining score | 12 months | To evaluate if the use of autologous blood as described in this study will improve the health of the ocular surface as measured by the ocular surface staining score using the Oxford Grading Scheme. |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed