autologous serum

[mpow]

I would appreciate a reply from anyone that has taken the autologous serum. I have been on it a month along with Oasis tears plus and azysite at night, warm ricy bags (which really work for me)

standing by.....mpow

[vmpummer]

Serum drops

I'm new to forum and almost 4 weeks into the serum drops. I do 6 times a day and also, compresses 2 xs with usually tranquileyes goggles or sometimes rice bag . Restasis 2xs a day, flax oil 2 TBS a day, erythromycin and genteal gel at night and systane (artificial tears) if I need more lubrication during the day. Yikes. Its a part time job. Was doing good with the serum drops for a number of weeks, They seemed to help me reduce the amount of times I needed to put lubrication in my eye...but I have just returned to work after 4 months off and the environment there has forced hot air heat so I am using additional AT besides the serum- some. I got all this regime from a Dr at Mass Eye and Ear and dont see him again for another 2 months. I also had eye surgery this winter at his recommendation to tighten my lower eye lids. This is supposed to help keep any tears that are on your eye (either natural oir artificial) from evaporating so fast. Don't think it has done much for my condition that I can tell yet. The first round of things they had me do before this regime I am on now was minocycline antibiotics by mouth (for a month) and pred mild drop too...along with the restasis (my eyes felt and looked great then but you can't keep taking those drugs). This did clear up the bad condition by upper eyelids were in. Use to be pretty miserable in the PM with sticky, gritty and swollen eyes. But that has been better and I can use my eyes at night now...like now on the computer.
What a journey.
The coolness of the drops feels great (they have to be kept refrigerated). Its another thing to have to do that but I've worked out a way to keep them with me and cool.
They did one blood draw so far- 7 viles and it made 21 bottles with about 60 drops per bottle. Should last about 3 months. Cost $100 which insurance does not cover but I was spending about that much on Artificial tears so the cost isn't a big concern. ($33/month).
Are you trying the drops.

[tearless2]

vmpummer,

That is quite the regimen! Do you have plugs as well? Do you have MGD or aqueous deficiency or both? I may consider autolog serum in the future.

[PotatoCakes]

I've been using serum drops since March 3, 2011. So far, I really like them. I don't know that they last longer than other drops but they give me hope that some of the corneal damage I have might be healing. Plus, as they are produced from my own body, I know I'm not allergic to them/irritated by them. I use them hourly, as possible -- sometimes it's not possible to bring them with me as they require refrigeration and as needed additionally. When I do take them with me, I use a vacuum-sealed Thermos with tiny ice packs. I just got back from a trip and had no problem taking it through security (they did want to peek) or on the plane. The Thermos claims it keeps things hot or cold for up to 9 hours and while I didn't go 9 hours, it did extremely well. By the time we checked into our hotel room, the ice packs were still frozen solid and my drops were completely cool.

For me, 10 vials of blood gave me 10 bottles of eyedrops -- 50/50 serum/saline. You can go higher or lower with the percentages. Your doctor determines what you get, although I'm thinking about asking my doctor to up the serum percentage next time. I'm no doctor but if some is good, more might be better. After all, it's my serum we're talking about, not some commercial substance.

My dad, a retired physician, is helping me find a new specialist (mine is good but I think we're at the end of the road for what he can provide), specifically one involved in dry eye research. He spoke with a woman recently who apparently has done an extensive study on serum drops and she told him that generally patients don't have a lot of improvement until the 3rd - 6th month. That's a big range and if you're using them as frequently as I do (I go through a bottle approx each week), it's expensive and painful but it's worth it to me if the I can undo some of the damage I have.

My biggest regret about the serum drops is that I didn't know about them earlier.

[MBC]

I have been on serum drops since last December. I love them and feel they saved my life and vision. After a painful crisis I was seen at MEII in Boston and got the drops my first visit. I have an ice pack and cooler and am away from home for more than four hours I take them with me. I still use Refresh but only three times a day. Before the serum drops I had to use Refresh every half an hour.

[vmpummer]

I do have plugs too which were put in afew months before I started the serum drops. I actually don't know what kind of deficiency I have but I believe both.

[vmpummer]

I'm on a 20% serum drops. That's interesting to know they can adjust percentage. I also didn't know it can take months before alot of improvement. I'm so far maintaining a regime using less Systane (artificial tears) so I'm pleased with that. I have been taking drops to work in a small thermos with little cold packs too. Warning to anyone about to try this...I got them too cold once and they refroze (which I didn't realize) and when I went to open the bottle the dropper glass tip broke off. Yikes. There are different types of cold packs so get the softer ones and check to make sure serum is liquid before opening. My blood draw didn't hurt AT ALL. The tech really knew what he was doing. Good to know you could fly with them too. Also, the Dry Eye Shop sells little bags with cold packs that you can carry with you. I bought one but haven't tried it yet but it's nicer looking if you need something that's more innocuous to carry around.

[PotatoCakes]

I haven't checked out the cold packs at the Dry Eye Shop but when I was researching methods to carry my serum drops, I asked my dad about a few options (he's a retired physician). It's his understanding that serum drops need to be kept refrigerated, not just cool -- so not all carrying methods will work. For instance, I found a product by Frio, that makes insulated packs for insulin but also makes some for eye drops and my dad said that would not be sufficient for my eye drops.

Interesting that your drops are in glass containers. Mine are in plastic dropper bottles. Sometimes they won't 'drop', I'm guessing maybe some thicker serum gets in there? Anyway, after a number of very frustrating instances trying to squeeze hard enough to get them to work, I found that simply putting the cap back on and shaking the drops took care of it. Not sure why it took me so long to figure out such a simple and obvious solution but it seems the desperation my eyes have driven me to has also messed with my common sense.

[vmpummer]

It's a tricky balance: cold enough but not so cold they freeze.

[mpow]

Hello to all the serum users....I have been on the drops since March 5..2-3 times a day for the first couple of wks and 2x a day now...I can't tell you how much these drops have helped me. I think it took about 3 wks for me to see a change...I also use the ricy bags and Oasis Tears...sometimes Thera Tears. I have stopped using azysite and Restasis(which I gave it a good try and never thought it helped me).

I have a follow-up appt. tomorrow with my dr. and have used my last drops this a.m..

I've got more questions---but will save them until after my appt....I'm so glad I don't feel alone....

[irish eyes]

Serum helped me a lot too.

Good luck for tomorrow; I hope there are actual signs of improvement to go with the symptoms.