Serum Tears and Nerve Regeneration Success?

[Katewest]

How often do you have to go get more serum? My doc is about 4 hrs away

[Cali]

Thanks so much for this post Tom - I have been despairing over the pain in my eye for the last 8 months (I had an acid burn and have corneal neuralgia now...oooowwwww)

Just wondering though - where can you buy those Serum Tears you are referring to? I looked online and it seems they are made out of your blood - is that true? I am extremely squeamish, but I'll do anything at this stage.

Any help would be much appreciated,

Orla.:-)

Orla - The autologous serum drops need to be prescribed by an ophthalmologist. You would go to a lab to get your blood drawn (they draw a number of vials) and they spin it in a centerfuge to separate out your “serum.” The serum is then sent to a compounding pharmacy where depending on your prescription, they mix it with unpreserved saline solution (BSS). So you may have a prescription for 20% serum and 80% BSS, or 50% serum and 50% BSS. Just depends on what your doctor prescribes. You need to use them at least 8x/day (every two hours) for them to work.

The blood draw is no big deal. I was nervous my first time. I was extra well-hydrated before the draw and brought some coconut water to drink afterwards. I’ve had many draws since then and it’s no big deal. Don’t even bring the coconut water anymore. I just cruise on out and all is well. First time nervous, after that I don’t even flinch anymore – I talk politics with my lab tech during the draw now!

To see the process, here is a link to a YouTube video of a guy who makes his own at home. He got graft vs. host disease after cancer treatments so cannot produce any tears. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kmTTfGFQgQ

[Max]

Flax Oil, Kril Oil, Vitamin A. You have to take an awful lot of cod liver oil to actually overdose on vitamin A.

I've been on prescribed oils for years now.

It depends on what country you get your statistics from.

[Orla]

Thanks so much for this post Tom - I have been despairing over the pain in my eye for the last 8 months (I had an acid burn and have corneal neuralgia now...oooowwwww)

Just wondering though - where can you buy those Serum Tears you are referring to? I looked online and it seems they are made out of your blood - is that true? I am extremely squeamish, but I'll do anything at this stage.

Any help would be much appreciated,

Orla.:-)

[Tanner]

You shouldn't go over 10,000 iu from what I am told.

[Max]

My doctor also recommends 3 tbs of fish oil to help as well. Not more than one teaspoon of cod liver because of too much vitamin A.

Flax Oil, Kril Oil, Vitamin A. You have to take an awful lot of cod liver oil to actually overdose on vitamin A.

I've been on prescribed oils for years now.

[Tanner]

My doctor also recommends 3 tbs of fish oil to help as well. Not more than one teaspoon of cod liver because of too much vitamin A.

[Tanner]

It is worth trying

[Max]

"It takes about 60-90 days for the osmolarity to change and then the healing process of cells takes another 60-90 days. Any nerve issues can take longer (this is per Indrep). "

I had tear ducts cauterized and then Lasik surgery and cataract surgery one after the other and then skin grafts on my lower lids to give them depth to hold Lacriserts all about three years ago.

Is it too late for me to expect serum to help me. I am in constant pain and was told the flap created for the lasik will never heal and the atrophied tear glands were untreatable. I produce no tears at all.

Does serum hold any hope for me? I was sent to a specialist to get it but my regular eye doctor thought serum helped produce tears. I'm currently on my third attempt with Jupiter lenses.

[joanna]

Any new progress with serum, guys?

[Cali]

A VERY common side effect to a medication (including sleeping medications) is dry eye. Maybe you can try a natural sleeping aid for a few nights (like melatonin or valerian) and see if you do not have dry eye. The serum tears are an attempt to reverse the osmolarity of the ocular surface. They are not necessarily for comfort. It takes about 60-90 days for the osmolarity to change and then the healing process of cells takes another 60-90 days. Any nerve issues can take longer (this is per Indrep).

I thought that serum is for healing cornea abrasion?so it can make nerve regenerate,too?
I have used serum once, and I feel even drier so I just quit it. Maybe I should stick it for few month to see if there are any improvement.
Ps. My dry eye is not caused by LASIK, it may cause by sleeping drug, but I,m not sure. do you think it will work for me?

[icycarol]

I thought that serum is for healing cornea abrasion?so it can make nerve regenerate,too?
I have used serum once, and I feel even drier so I just quit it. Maybe I should stick it for few month to see if there are any improvement.
Ps. My dry eye is not caused by LASIK, it may cause by sleeping drug, but I,m not sure. do you think it will work for me?

[bakunin]

with this condition and told me to use Serum tears (between 20% to 50%) 8 times a day and that I had an 80% chance to grow 50% of my nerves back in 3 to 6 months. He told me I would lead a 'normal' life... and it may get worse before it gets better - as the nerves regenerate there may be pain associated to that.

Has anyone on this forum had successful nerve regeneration with Serum tears?

Thanks,
Tom

Maybe the very hard time Tom is living at the moment is due to nerve regenerating. I hope so.
All my positive thinking to Tom and Shane.

[Tanner]

Thanks cali. I saw you have PNE. I am really sorry. That is tough.

[Cali]

Tanner, just a quick heads up. Dr. Hamrah told Tommyboy that you have to use the serum drops, 20%-50% at least 8x/day. Anything less than 8x does not help. Might be different when using the scleral lens.