Autologous serum eye drops in the management of ocular surface disorders: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION: the aim of this study was to analyze the currently available literature on the use of autologous serum (AS) eye drops for the management of ocular surface disorders. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: MEDLINE/PubMed and ISI Web of Sciences searches were performed according to MOOSE guidelines. Studies were considered eligible if: 1) they reported on AS eye drops for the management of ocular surface disorders/diseases; and 2) had been published in peer-reviewed journals. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Initially, 144 records were identified from databases. Of these, 66 were excluded after the first screening, because they were irrelevant for this systematic review. Seventy-eight reports on AS eye drops in ocular surface disorders were sought for retrieval. Seventy-eight reports were assessed for eligibility; 11 of them were excluded, because they contained insufficient information for the purpose of this study. In total, 67 (86%) of the 78 initially identi- fied studies, published between 1984 and 2024, met selection criteria and were finally included in the review. A great heterogeneity in the preparation methods of AS eye drops, their final concentration, and the frequency and duration of use exists in the published literature. CONCLUSIONS: Although AS-based eye drops may be beneficial in the management of ocular surface disorders, con- clusions are limited due to the absence of controlled trials.