Why serum works where drops do not
Natural tears are not just salt water. They carry epidermal growth factor, vitamin A, fibronectin, nerve growth factor, immunoglobulins and dozens of other components that keep the corneal surface healthy and healing. Artificial tears contain none of them. Serum contains most of them at concentrations close to those of tears, which is why it can heal a surface that has not responded to lubricants, plugs and anti-inflammatories.
How the drops are made
A prescription is sent to a compounding pharmacy or laboratory. Blood is drawn, usually several tubes, and allowed to clot; the serum is separated by centrifuge, diluted to the prescribed strength with a sterile saline solution, filtered, and dispensed into many small single-use vials. The vials are kept frozen and one is thawed each day for use. A single draw typically provides several months of drops. The process takes a week or two from draw to delivery.
Using serum tears
The drops are used four to eight times daily, as prescribed, in place of or alongside lubricants. Because they contain no preservative, the day's vial is discarded at the end of the day and the rest stay frozen. Improvement in comfort and surface staining is usually seen within a few weeks, and treatment continues for months, sometimes long term, depending on the condition.
Who benefits
- Severe aqueous deficient dry eye, including Sjogren's syndrome
- Neurotrophic keratitis, where the nerves no longer supply growth factors
- Persistent epithelial defects and recurrent erosions that fail to heal
- Surface disease after chemical injury, graft versus host disease or Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Severe dry eye after LASIK or other surgery that has not responded to standard treatment
Cost and practicalities
Serum tears are compounded rather than manufactured and are usually not covered by insurance; the compounding pharmacy quotes the cost per batch. Patients with certain blood-borne infections cannot use them. We can help arrange the prescription and the blood draw and explain the storage routine.
Is this right for your eyes?
Nothing on this page is a diagnosis. Whether this is the right choice for you is decided by a full examination at one of our 4 offices: Pasadena, Huntington Beach, Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills.
About this content: This page was written with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Bavand Youssefzadeh, DO. It is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace an eye examination. Individual results vary. Read our medical disclaimer.
