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Autologous serum eye drops improve symptoms and corneal nerve parameters in neurotrophic keratitis

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Treatment with 20% autologous serum eye drops (ASED) for 2 months improved ocular surface measures, corneal sensitivity, and corneal nerve parameters in patients with paralytic lagophthalmos (PL) and neurotrophic keratitis (NK), according to a study.

The study included 11 patients with unilateral PL and NK; 10 completed the 2-month course of treatment.

After treatment, Schirmer I test values increased from a mean of 10.3 mm to 19.7 mm (P = 0.041), Ocular Surface Disease Index scores improved from 21.1 to 17.0 (P = 0.009), and central corneal sensitivity improved from 3.4 mm to 5.0 mm (P = 0.005). In vivo confocal microscopy also showed significant increases in corneal nerve fiber length (11.1 to 14.7 mm/mm²; P = 0.006) and corneal nerve fiber density (23.1 to 33.8 fibers/mm²; P = 0.012). One patient discontinued treatment because of ocular discomfort.

Reference

Lucchino L, Mastrogiuseppe E, Giovannetti F, et al. Corneal nerve regeneration and ocular surface restoration following treatment with autologous serum eye drops in patients with paralytic lagophthalmos and neurotrophic keratitis. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2026 Jul 17. doi: 10.1007/s00417-026-07388-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42467196.

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