Blood: a possible alternative treatment for dry eye disease

The discovery was made after scientists from the Moorfields Eye Hospital, London asked patients to apply a pricked and bleeding fingertip to their eyes four times a day, which resulted in significant improvents in their symptoms.The theory behind the treatment is based on the fact that blood contains similar enzymes and vitamins to those found in tears, which when applied to the eye help maintain and repair the cornea.{{quote-A:R-W:450-I:2-Q: Knowing that our blood has significant growth properties, we decided to see if a whole drop of blood applied to the eye could provide effective relief, -WHO:Dr Anant Sharma, Study lead and consultant ophthalmologist at Bedford Hospital- Moorfields Eye Centre}}The study, published in the journal Eye, involved 16 severe dry eye patients who applied blood to the lower part of each affected eye for eight weeks. Damage to the eye surface was halved and combined with a significant improvent in vision, while symptoms worsened when the treatment was stopped and improved again when it was re-started.“Dry eye syndrome is very common and I often see patients whose sight is severely affected by the condition. Knowing that our blood has significant growth properties, we decided to see if a whole drop of blood applied to the eye could provide effective relief,” study lead and consultant ophthalmologist at Bedford Hospital- Moorfields Eye Centre Dr Anant Sharma said.“This is a potential game changer in the treatment of dry eye. It is simple, inexpensive and early results suggest it is effective with excellent results and no serious side effects. We are planning a larger randomised controlled study to assess the long term safety of the method.We’re also hopeful that it could benefit patients with other conditions that affect the front of the eye, such as ulcers, infections and corneal erosion syndrome.”