Evaluation of the profile of patients with ocular surface disease using blood components as a tear substitute.

Abstract

Dry eye disease (DED), also called ocular surface disease (OSD), is a multifactorial condition characterized by the loss of tear film stability, resulting in symptoms such as ocular discomfort, burning, sensitivity to light and redness, and affecting the quality of life of patients with this condition. It can be classified into two main subtypes: aqueous deficiency and evaporative dry eye, resulting respectively from disorders in the lacrimal and meibomian glands. In addition, systemic diseases such as Sjogren's Syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, as well as non-systemic causes such as aging and medication side effects, can contribute to the development of this condition.Diagnosis includes objective tests such as tear osmolarity and tear film break-up time. Treatment is personalized and can include artificial tears, ocular or systemic drugs, thermal masks and eyelid massage. Autologous artificial tears have been widely used as second-line therapy due to their ability to reproduce the patient's natural tears, and blood-derived eye drops containing components similar to natural tears have proved to be an effective therapeutic option for maintaining the integrity of the ocular surface.