Eye drops made with autologous serum vs. eye drops made from platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of dry eye. A scoping review

Abstract

Dry eye syndrome is characterized by an alteration in the production and stability of the tear film, leading to debilitating symptoms that affect quality of life. Its incidence increases with age, the presence of systemic diseases such as autoimmune disorders and diabetes, as well as environmental factors and lifestyle habits, including prolonged use of electronic devices and exposure to adverse climates. Conventional treatments include artificial tears and topical anti-inflammatory agents, which provide symptomatic relief, although clinical variability makes standardization of management difficult. In this context, biological therapies such as autologous serum (AS) eye drops and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) eye drops have emerged, showing efficacy in moderate and severe cases, highlighting the need for personalized approaches and further clinical research. To assess their usefulness, a scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, with searches carried out in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Experimental and analytical observational studies in English and Spanish were included, while theoretical works, animal studies, narrative or systematic reviews, and non-analytical studies were excluded. Out of 951 identified records, five met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The results confirmed that both autologous serum and PRP are safe and effective treatments in moderate to severe stages. Both improved clinical parameters, although PRP may offer additional advantages in epithelial regeneration and tear film stability. However, methodological heterogeneity prevented establishing their definitive superiority.