PRP Eye Drops for Corneal Ulcers

PRP Serum Eye Drops for Chronic Non-Healing Corneal Ulcers in Joplin, MO

PRP/Serum Eye Drops in Joplin, MO

Your eyes are your windows to the world. But healthy eyes mean more than clear vision. Eye discomfort from corneal ulcers can make simple daily tasks seem impossible, and can even put your vision at risk.

Conventional treatments can be effective, but not everyone responds well to them. PRP Dry Eye Clinic offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or serum eye drops to bring long-lasting comfort and healing to your eyes.


Understanding Corneal Ulcers

The cornea is the clear, dome-shaped layer that covers the front of your eyes. In addition to bending and focusing light to help you see, the cornea acts as a major part of your eyes’ defense system. The top layer of your cornea is called the epithelial layer. It acts as a barrier, protecting your eyes against invasion by microorganisms.1

A corneal ulcer is an open sore — a break in the epithelial layer that can result from:2,3

  • Dry eyes
  • Neurotrophic keratitis or neurotrophic keratopathy
  • Metaherpetic disease
  • Chemical burns
  • Contact lens wear
  • Eye trauma
  • Prior eye surgery
  • Use of corticosteroids
  • Use of contaminated eye medications
  • Immunological disorders, such as type 1 diabetes4

When there is a defect in the epithelial layer, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms can infect your cornea, causing a rapid onset of symptoms like pain, light sensitivity, and vision loss.5

Treatment of a corneal ulcer depends on the cause. But not all corneal ulcers respond to conventional treatment.

Of the causes listed above, dry eyes, neurotrophic keratopathy, metaherpetic disease, chemical burns, and immunological disorders can lead to chronic, non-healing ulcers.

If the infection is left untreated or inadequately treated, complications such as glaucoma, cataracts, and vision loss can result.6 Such a risk makes finding an effective alternative treatment for chronic corneal ulcers an urgent need.


What is PRP?

Corneal wound healing depends on a variety of proteins, such as epithelial, fibroblast, and platelet growth factors.7 But when your cornea can’t provide enough growth factors to heal itself, you need another source.

And according to experts, that source may be your own platelets.

Platelets are tiny cells that help your blood clot in the event of an injury. When activated, they supply a rich amount of growth factors and other chemicals that promote tissue healing and regeneration.8 Studies have also shown that they can recruit stem cells to an injury site, where they then transform into new, healthy tissue.9

But your body doesn’t always produce platelets at the intensity we need them to.

Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, eye drops deliver a high concentration of platelets (at least 2 times that of whole blood) to your eyes to boost your body’s natural healing process.


Do PRP or Serum Eye Drops Help Heal Chronic, Non-Healing Corneal Ulcers?

Several studies support PRP’s effectiveness in treating chronic, non-healing corneal ulcers.

In one study, 38 patients with dormant (persistent, unresponsive to treatment) corneal ulcers were treated with PRP eye drops for 1 week. Of the 38 participants, only 2 showed no changes by the end of the treatment. All others experienced either significant improvements or complete healing of their ulcers, demonstrating PRP’s ability to heal.10

Another study examined the efficacy of PRP eye drops for patients with neurotrophic corneal ulcers. After using the PRP eye drops for up to 3 months, 80% of the patients experienced complete healing of their ulcers, while 16% experienced considerable improvements.11

A 2018 study showed similar effectiveness of PRP eye drops for the treatment of corneal ulcers that occurred as a result of corneal surgery. By the end of this study, 90.9% of patients reported improvements in their symptoms, and 65.1% improved their visual acuity.12


How the PRP Process Works

The PRP procedure is simple, convenient, and quick. Your entire appointment should last about an hour. Here’s what you can expect at PRP Dry Eye Clinic:

Step One Step Two Step Three Step Four
A technician will draw a small sample (about 15 cc) of blood from you, which will be placed in a tube. The tube is placed in a centrifuge, which spins the blood at high speeds. This separates the platelets from the other blood components. We remove the tube from the centrifuge and reintroduce the concentrated platelets to the plasma. Once the PRP solution is prepared, your provider will provide instructions on how to use the eye drops.
Step One
A technician will draw a small sample (about 15 cc) of blood from you, which will be placed in a tube.
Step Two
The vial is placed in a centrifuge, which spins the blood at high speeds. This separates the platelets from the other blood components.
Step Three
We remove the tube from the centrifuge and reintroduce the concentrated platelets to the plasma.
Step Four
Once the PRP solution is prepared, your provider will provide instructions on how to use the eye drops.
 

Are PRP or Serum Eye Drops Safe?

We offer autologous PRP or serum eye drops, meaning the drops are made from your own blood. Using your own body to heal means the risk of adverse reaction is extremely low. Talk to your provider if you experience any discomfort from your PRP or serum eye drops.


PRP or Serum Eye Drops for Chronic, Non-Healing Corneal Ulcers in Joplin, MO

Chronic, non-healing corneal ulcers can be frustrating and frightening. But PRP eye drops can provide a powerful, safe alternative to conventional treatment.

If you’re in the Joplin, MO area and want to learn more about how PRP eye drops can help you, talk to one of our caring staff today.

Call us today to learn what PRP can do for you.

Our Location

PRP Dry Eye Clinic
2013 S Joplin Ave.
Joplin, MO 64804
Phone: (417) 547-6200
Get Directions


 

References:

  1. Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Dr. Preeti Chaubey, Dr.Vijay Pratap Singh. Long Standing, Non Healing Corneal Ulcer: Manegment Approach. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS), e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 17, Issue 2 Ver. 2 February. (2018), PP 37-39
  2. Eye platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of ocular surface disorders Current Opinion
    Retrieved May 3, 2022, from https://ophed.net/system/files/2015/07/Eye%20platelet-rich%20plasma%20in%20the%20treatment%20of%20ocular%20surface%20disorders.pdf
  3. Byrd LB, Martin N. Corneal Ulcer. [Updated 2021 Aug 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539689/
  4. Ioannidis, A.S., Zagora, S.L. & Wechsler, A.W. A non-healing corneal ulcer as the presenting feature of type 1 diabetes mellitus: a case report. J Med Case Reports 5, 539 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-5-539
  5. Byrd LB, Martin N. Corneal Ulcer. [Updated 2021 Aug 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539689/
  6. Byrd LB, Martin N. Corneal Ulcer. [Updated 2021 Aug 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539689/
  7. Jorge L. Alio, Marta Abad, Alberto Artola, Jose L. Rodriguez-Prats, Silvia Pastor, Jose Ruiz-Colecha, Use of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Dormant Corneal Ulcers, Ophthalmology, Volume 114, Issue 7, 2007, Pages 1286-1293.e1, ISSN 0161-6420, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.10.044.
  8. Jorge L. Alio, Marta Abad, Alberto Artola, Jose L. Rodriguez-Prats, Silvia Pastor, Jose Ruiz-Colecha, Use of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Dormant Corneal Ulcers, Ophthalmology, Volume 114, Issue 7, 2007, Pages 1286-1293.e1, ISSN 0161-6420, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.10.044.
  9. H.C. de Boer , C. Verseyden , L.H. Ulfman , J.J. Zwaginga , I. Bot , E.A. Biessen , T.J. Rabelink , and A.J. van Zonneveld, Fibrin and Activated Platelets Cooperatively Guide Stem Cells to a Vascular Injury and Promote Differentiation Towards an Endothelial Cell Phenotype. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2006;26:1653–1659
  10. Jorge L. Alio, Marta Abad, Alberto Artola, Jose L. Rodriguez-Prats, Silvia Pastor, Jose Ruiz-Colecha, Use of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Dormant Corneal Ulcers, Ophthalmology, Volume 114, Issue 7, 2007, Pages 1286-1293.e1, ISSN 0161-6420, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.10.044.
  11. Dominika Wróbel-Dudzińska, Jorge Alio, Alejandra Rodriguez, Ewa Suchodoła-Ratajewicz, Ewa Kosior-Jarecka, Beata Rymgayłło-Jankowska, Agnieszka Ćwiklińska-Haszcz, Tomasz Żarnowski, "Clinical Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Neurotrophic Corneal Ulcer", Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 2018, Article ID 3538764, 7 pages, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3538764
  12. Alio JL, Rodriguez AE, De Arriba P, Gisbert S, Abdelghany AA. Treatment with platelet-rich plasma of surgically related dormant corneal ulcers. European Journal of Ophthalmology. 2018;28(5):515-520. doi:10.1177/1120672117747042

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