Anyone use autologous serum eye drops (ASED)?

I hope someone will respond. I have a prescription for these drops, but haven’t used them yet. They are expensive and not covered by my insurance. My eyes are stable now, but I would use them if they were really helpful. I have severe dry eye.

hello. I just started using them today--also a little hesitant because I am sort of stable...hope we get some answers. (where did you get the drops?)

I have prescription, but haven’t gotten it filled yet. It’s a specialty place in Durham, NC.

Hi @mtpeony and @celia16, here's some general information about autologous serum eye drops (ASED) that might interest you.
- Autologous Serum for Chronic Dry Eye https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-dry-eye/autologous-serum-eye-drops-for-dry-eye

Fellow members @2021mymayoclinic2021 @rayjay535353 @dadcue @mothermary1 @chilover @charlief have mentioned using ASED and may have experiences to share with you.

Hi-thanks but I did not find this article very helpful..I was trying to find people with real experience with them.??

I received ASEDs for a "nerve related" condition but not nerve pain. My condition is called neurotrophic keratitis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431106/#:~:text=Neurotrophic%20keratitis%20is%20a%20degenerative,corneal%20ulceration%2C%20melting%20and%20perforation.
I developed a neurotrophic corneal defect but I didn't feel any eye pain because my left eye is completely numb. The lack of innervation to my left eye was caused by surgery for trigeminal neuralgia.

My ophthalmologist didn't think I was diligent with doing all the eye drops she wanted me to take. She reminded me how serious the situation was and what could happen. She said my eye could get an infection, my cornea could "melt down" which could cause a perforation of my eye. None of this sounded good so I did the ASEDs at least 8 times per day.

I had to do other eye drops besides ASEDs. I was doing eye drops hourly at one stage. My ophthalmologist seemed to know that ASEDs 8 times per day wasn't feasible when she settled for "as often as possible."

When it was all said and done ... my corneal defect healed eventually.

Thank you so much for your story. I have had some pain and some flash blurring since cataract surgery a year ago. Have tried everything for "dry eye" which many ophthalmologists really did think was the issue. So some have suggested neuropathy...which the serum drops is suppose to help along of course with steroids! I have been playing with steroids all year.!!! So yes, the protocal is for 8 times a day!! not easy along with the other drops!
Just hoping this will finally help my eyes and give me some peace...
Glad to hear you seem to be doing much better. How long did you do the drops? Do you think they really helped?
(curious is your dr. is in the Boston area?

I live in Iowa City, Iowa. My eye doctors are all from the University of Iowa Ophthalmology Dept which is well regarded nationally. I have a long history of autoimmune uveitis which is associated with reactive arthritis. My ophthalmologist was my primary care doctor for many years before I was referred to a rheumatologist.

I progressed from a general ophthalmologist to a uveitis specialist and then to a cornea specialist when I had the corneal defect. At one point I was being seen by 3 ophthalmologists.

I used the ASEDs for a year but 8 drops per day for only 2 months until the corneal defect started to improve. I had to wear a bandage contact lens which I hated more than the ASEDs.
https://eyedocsbrookville.com/bandage-contact-lens-what-you-need-to-know/
The bandage contact lens just irritated my eye and caused more inflammation. At first, I didn't like the idea of putting blood serum in my eye even if it was derived from my own blood.

High dose oral prednisone was used initially because I was told I had uveitis. I assumed it was "autoimmune uveitis" so I was the one who suggested prednisone.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459445/
This time it wasn't autoimmune related.

The cornea specialist wasn't too thrilled about me being on prednisone for a "traumatic uveitis." He wanted me off prednisone which would have been impossible had I not been taking a biologic for my other autoimmune conditions. The cornea specialist said prednisone would increase the risk of my eye getting infected. The fear was I could wind up with an autoimmune, a traumatic and an infectious uveitis all at the same time.

The weird thing was I was at a "routine visit" in the uveitis clinic when the corneal defect was found. The resident ophthalmologist couldn't believe I wasn't having any eye pain because what I had was usually extremely painful. My eye being numb prevented the pain. I didn't know how bad neurotrophic keratitis could be.

I kept taking the ASED's for a year until I was told that I wouldn't need them anymore. I now use Refresh Celluvisc eye drops. I think the ASEDs helped heal the corneal defect. I was so relieved when it closed.

It is a miracle my vision is still reasonably good. Prednisone wasn't good for my eyes because of early onset cataracts at the age of 40, ocular hypertension and now glaucoma. I take cosopt eye drops along with the Celluvisc.

I tried them a few years ago and they didn't work. However, I have heard that higher percentages of whatever goes into them gives better results. I don't also have insurance.

hi-- how did you use them and for how long? what were you using them for?
and where did you get them?