Platlet Rich Plasma (Serum Tears)
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), is prepared using a person’s own blood serum for wound healing. The use of a patient’s own blood to create eye drops has been around for 20 years. Over the years, autologous serum has been used to help heal injured corneas, soothe dry eyes, and recently to heal abnormal nerves.
Autologous PRP : The Endoret System
Autologous serum (AS) tears for the use of corneal disorders have evolved over the past several decades. Conventional AS tears need to be dilated (for e.g., 50% or 75%) because of inflammatory leukocytes that increased inflammation and accelerated fibrin deterioration. In addition, conventional AS tears are very poor in growth factors since platelets are eliminated in the process.
As a new alternative, platelet Rich Plasma is a form of autologous serum drops and has been proposed for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED). Autologous PRP has a high concentration of platelets obtained through a relatively simple procedure, which requires no addition of any other particular substance. An experimental study showed that PRP exerts more potent proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects than conventional AS on a cell culture inflammatory model.
Dr. Fishman brought the Endoret® system into his office so that AS tears can be provided to the patient within ~ 2-3 hours. Over more than 15 years, it has been possible to verify the safety of the Endoret® (prgf®) system in different areas of medicine.
The patient receives 32 Dropperette vials and each vial can be used without refrigeration for 3 days after which it is discarded. By preparing the PRP in individual vials and by using the dropperette vial for only 3 days, the risk of contamination is reduced.
