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This abstract is assigned to session AOB Free Papers 2

Presentation type	Oral presentation
Title	Efficacy and Safety of 20% and 100% Autologous Serum Eye Drops in Patients with Severe Dry Eye Disease: a prospective, blinded, randomized, crossover study

Purpose	To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 20% and 100% autologous serum eye drops (ASED), compared to preservative-free artificial tears (PFAT), as a treatment for severe dry eye disease (DED).
Methods	Forty-six patients with severe DED were randomized to receive PFAT, ASED 20% and ASED 100% for 8 weeks in a crossover study design. The primary outcome measure was an assessment of ocular symptoms, using the OSDI questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were Schirmer 1 test, BCVA, ocular surface staining (OSS) using the Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance (SICCA) OSS score, tBUT, non-invasive tBUT, conjunctival injection score and MGD grading. Additionally, serum and tear cytokine analysis and microbiological cultures were performed.
Results	Use of ASED 100% resulted in the most significant improvement in both the OSDI and SICCA OSS scores compared to baseline. Direct comparison with PFAT revealed additional improvements in OSDI and OSS scores after treatment with both ASED 20% and 100%. No significant differences between treatments were found for all other secondary outcomes. Cultures were positive in more than half of the used PFAT and ASED vials, with the majority containing commensal flora. No serious adverse events were observed. Analysis of tear cytokines suggested that ASED promotes a less inflammatory ocular environment than PFAT.
Conclusion	Treatment with autologous serum eye drops is safe and yields statistically and clinically significant improvements in both subjective and objective DED parameters. Increasing autologous serum concentration is an effective treatment option for patients with severe dry eye disease.
Conflict of interest	No

Authors 1

Last name	ROELS
Initials	D
Department	Ghent University Hospital
City	Ghent

Authors 2

Last name	Leroy
Initials	BP
Department	Ghent University Hospital
City	Ghent

Authors 3

Last name	Claerhout
Initials	I
Department	AZ Maria Middelares Hospital
City	Ghent

Authors 4

Last name	Kerre
Initials	T
Department	Ghent University Hospital
City	Ghent