PRP Eye Drops after LASIK

PRP/Serum Drops for Post-LASIK Recovery in Joplin, MO

Eyesight is one of our most important senses. Since it helps connect us to other people and our surroundings, it’s no wonder we rely on it so much.

It’s also why changes to our vision are so unsettling. Fortunately, medical advances like LASIK allow us to correct many causes of vision changes.

While risks and side effects are uncommon with LASIK, they can happen. At PRP Dry Eye Clinic, we offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) serum drops following your LASIK surgery to speed healing and regenerate the delicate tissue of your eyes.

What is LASIK?

The fronts of your eyes are covered by a clear, dome-shaped protective layer called the cornea. It acts much like the lens of a camera, bending and focusing light so that it can pass through your pupils and lens.

Your corneas may not be perfect. In this case, the bending and focusing of light – called refraction – causes some images to appear blurry or distorted. There are 3 main types of refractive errors:

• Myopia (nearsightedness)
• Hyperopia (farsightedness)
• Astigmatism

Eyeglasses or contact lenses can compensate for these refractive errors. But many people seek out the more permanent solution that LASIK offers.

LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is the best-known laser eye procedure in the United States, with more than 700,000 surgeries performed each year.¹ During a LASIK procedure, a surgeon uses a special type of laser to create a flap in your cornea. The laser is then used to reshape your cornea’s underlying layers so that light rays are focused on the back of your eyes (retina).

Is LASIK Safe?

LASIK has a strong safety profile, but no surgery is without risks. The changes made to your cornea during a LASIK procedure affect your tear film, which contains growth factors, enzymes, and nutrients that maintain the health of the ocular surface.^2,3

Because of the damage to your tear film, common side effects following LASIK surgery include:

• Corneal sensitivity
• Ocular surface syndrome (OSS), characterized by dry eyes, tearing, redness, discomfort, blurry vision, foreign-body sensation
• Glare
• Dry eye
• Halos
• Light sensitivity
• Itchy eyes
• Flap infection or necrosis⁴
• Recurrent corneal erosion

Most of these side effects are temporary, but for some patients (between 20 to 40%), the symptoms can last 6 months or longer.⁵

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) eye drops can aid in post-LASIK recovery by delivering healing growth factors directly to your eyes.

What Is PRP?

PRP eye drops are blood-derived products, obtained by separating platelets from other components in your blood.

Platelets, best known for their role in blood clotting, are a rich source of proteins and growth factors that promote tissue regeneration and healing.^6,7

The use of blood-derived products for eyes isn’t new. In 1975, scientists documented the benefits of autologous (derived from one’s own body) serum for patients with severe dry eyes.⁸

Why blood though? It’s because the composition of your blood is similar to that of your tears, including:⁹

• Vitamin A
• Transforming growth factor, which stimulates the production of collagen, fibronectin, and other proteins and also has an anti-inflammatory effect
• Fibronectin, one of the most important factors in the corneal epithelium healing process
• Immunoglobulin A, which stops bacteria from reproducing
• Epidermal growth factor, which speeds up the healing process by stimulating DNA synthesis of epithelial cells
• Vitamin C
• Nerve growth factor, which restores the function of injured neurons

Historically, fetal bovine serum or umbilical cord serum have been used. But because these products are from other species or other human donors, they carry a high risk of allergic reactions and infectious disease transmission.¹⁰

To eliminate such risks, we only use autologous PRP or serum eye drops.

Does PRP Help with Post-LASIK Recovery?

The short answer? Yes.

There is an increasing number of studies reporting the benefits of PRP eye drops for post-LASIK recovery.

In one study, patients with ocular surface syndrome (OSS) after LASIK were treated with PRP eye drops for 4 weeks. The results showed that 85% of the patients experienced significant improvements of their symptoms, and 54% had improved corrected visual acuity.¹¹

Similar results were reported in a 2017 study, in which patients with post-LASIK OSS were treated using only autologous PRP eye drops.¹² These benefits may be, at least in part, due to PRP’s ability to restore tear film function.¹³

Recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) is another concern for patients undergoing LASIK surgery. RCE is a chronic condition resulting in pain and blurry vision.¹⁴

PRP or serum eye drops may help with RCE as well. Results from several studies support the use of PRP eye drops in patients with RCE after LASIK. One study showed that 8 out of 11 patients using autologous serum eye drops did not experience any relapses in RCE.¹⁵

In another longer-term study, patients with RCE used autologous serum eye drops after all other conventional treatments had failed. Remarkably, 85% of patients had no relapses during the 30-month follow-up period.¹⁶

The PRP Process

The entire PRP process is very quick and easy. At PRP Dry Eye Clinic, you can expect the following steps:

PRP Eye Drops for Post-LASIK Recovery in Joplin, MO

When it comes to your eyes, you can’t be too careful. If you’re in the Joplin, MO area and thinking about LASIK, call us today to find out how PRP can help your recovery process.

We look forward to helping you see your best.

Our Location

References:

1. Joffe SN. The 25th Anniversary of Laser Vision Correction in the United States. Clin Ophthalmol. 2021;15:1163-1172. Published 2021 Mar 17. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S299752
2. Bettina Klenkler, Heather Sheardown, Lyndon Jones, Growth Factors in the Tear Film: Role in Tissue Maintenance, Wound Healing, and Ocular Pathology, The Ocular Surface, Volume 5, Issue 3, 2007, Pages 228-239, ISSN 1542-0124, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1542-0124(12)70613-4.
3. Anitua, E., Muruzabal, F., Tayebba, A., Riestra, A., Perez, V.L., Merayo-Lloves, J. and Orive, G. (2015), Autologous serum and plasma rich in growth factors in ophthalmology: preclinical and clinical studies. Acta Ophthalmol, 93: e605-e614. https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.12710
4. Rocha GA, Acera A, Durán JA. Laser In Situ Keratomileusis Flap Necrosis After Trigeminal Nerve Palsy. Arch Ophthalmol. 2007;125(10):1423–1425. doi:10.1001/archopht.125.10.1423
5. Alio JL, Rodriguez AE, Abdelghany AA, Oliveira RF. Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Eye Drops for the Treatment of Post-LASIK Chronic Ocular Surface Syndrome. J Ophthalmol. 2017;2017:2457620. doi:10.1155/2017/2457620
6. Cook CS, Smith PA. Clinical Update: Why PRP Should Be Your First Choice for Injection Therapy in Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2018;11(4):583-592. doi:10.1007/s12178-018-9524-x
7. Sundman EA, Cole BJ, Karas V, Della Valle C, Tetreault MW, Mohammed HO, Fortier LA. The anti-inflammatory and matrix restorative mechanisms of platelet-rich plasma in osteoarthritis. Am J Sports Med. 2014 Jan;42(1):35-41. doi: 10.1177/0363546513507766. Epub 2013 Nov 5. PMID: 24192391.
8. Ralph RA, Doane MG, Dohlman CH. Clinical experience with a mobile ocular perfusion pump. Arch Ophthalmol. 1975 Oct;93(10):1039-43. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1975.01010020815015. PMID: 1180750.
9. Anitua, E., Muruzabal, F., Tayebba, A., Riestra, A., Perez, V.L., Merayo-Lloves, J. and Orive, G. (2015), Autologous serum and plasma rich in growth factors in ophthalmology: preclinical and clinical studies. Acta Ophthalmol, 93: e605-e614. https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.12710
10. Anitua, E., Muruzabal, F., Tayebba, A., Riestra, A., Perez, V.L., Merayo-Lloves, J. and Orive, G. (2015), Autologous serum and plasma rich in growth factors in ophthalmology: preclinical and clinical studies. Acta Ophthalmol, 93: e605-e614. https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.12710
11. Alio JL, Pastor S, Ruiz-Colecha J, Rodriguez A, Artola A. Treatment of ocular surface syndrome after LASIK with autologous platelet-rich plasma. J Refract Surg. 2007 Jun;23(6):617-9. doi: 10.3928/1081-597X-20070601-13. PMID: 17598582.
12. Alio JL, Rodriguez AE, Abdelghany AA, Oliveira RF. Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Eye Drops for the Treatment of Post-LASIK Chronic Ocular Surface Syndrome. J Ophthalmol. 2017;2017:2457620. doi:10.1155/2017/2457620
13. Avila MY. Restoration of human lacrimal function following platelet-rich plasma injection. Cornea. 2014 Jan;33(1):18-21. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000000016. PMID: 24240491.
14. Ti SE, Tan DT. Recurrent corneal erosion after laser in situ keratomileusis. Cornea. 2001 Mar;20(2):156-8. doi: 10.1097/00003226-200103000-00008. PMID: 11248819.
15. del Castillo JM, de la Casa JM, Sardiña RC, Fernández RM, Feijoo JG, Gómez AC, Rodero MM, Sánchez JG. Treatment of recurrent corneal erosions using autologous serum. Cornea. 2002 Nov;21(8):781-3. doi: 10.1097/00003226-200211000-00010. PMID: 12410036.
16. Ziakas, N.G., Boboridis, K.G., Terzidou, C., Naoumidi, T.L., Mikropoulos, D., Georgiadou, E.N. and Georgiadis, N.S. (2010), Long-term follow up of autologous serum treatment for recurrent corneal erosions. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology, 38: 683-687. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9071.2010.02304.x