Autologous Serum Eye Drops (ASED)
Patients suffering with severe dry eyes may not produce enough tears to remain comfortable, and supplementing natural tear production with artificial tears or lubricants is often inadequate.
Many people have underlying medical issues which cause or worsen dry eye, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease. Others take medications which diminish tear production. The use of autologous serum in the form of eye drops has been reported as a new option for ocular surface disorders.
A Prescription is Required.
Details
The meaning of autologous is that the donor and the recipient are the same person. The eye drops in this case are made from your own blood. Red blood cells and clotting factors are removed, leaving behind blood serum. This is diluted with a sterile, preservative-free solution to produce a tear substitute that is unique to the patient, and contains many important growth factors and nutrients normally found in healthy tears. Since blood and tears have an almost identical salinity and pH, there is no issue of burning or stinging upon usage. Because they are non-preserved, the drops are stored in the freezer until you need them.
Once I have a prescription, what is the process of getting autologous serum eye drops?
Blood can be drawn at:
John Theurer Cancer Center
92 Second Street (1st Floor)
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Scheduling: (551) 996-5184
Patients will need to bring the following:
• Copy of recent comprehensive blood tests for Hep B (HBsAg & HBsAb & HBcAb), Hep C, and HIV Note: Tests must be from current calendar year. • Physicians’ prescription for the Autologous Serum eye drops • Full payment of $140 by credit card or check for the blood drawing service Once blood has been drawn it is the patient’s responsibility to bring, or have their physician fax a prescription for Autologous Serum eye drops, as well as copies of above mentioned blood tests.At the blood collection facility:
- Medical assistant will draw blood sample with proper labeling
- Sample will be sent to HUMC Blood Lab for processing
- Blood serum will be processed prior to being frozen and stored in freezer
- HUMC Blood Lab will call Town & Country Compounding and arrange for our courier to pick up the frozen serum for further processing in our sterile lab
The Most Advanced Techniques
- Upon receipt of the frozen serum, our staff will contact the patient to schedule and arrange for pick up, delivery by courier or overnight shipment.
- When ready to compound, our sterile compounding technicians will allow it to defrost in a controlled sterile environment.
- The serum will then be aseptically compounded into eye drops in our ISO class 6 Isolated Clean Room in an advanced laminar flow hood.
- Eye drops will be made into 100% concentration, or as prescribed by your physician.
- Town & Country Compounding aseptically filters the serum and transfers the serum into dropper bottles for patient use.
