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If you have severe dry eye, you know what an adverse impact it can have on your life. Driving, watching movies, reading — anything that requires visual attention — can become an exercise in incredible discomfort, if not outright misery. And when your current treatment attempts aren’t bringing relief, the condition can feel that much more dire. Though it’s true that nothing can perfectly replace natural tear production, there are alternatives that come exceptionally close and bring tremendous relief.
What is Dry Eye?
With dry eye and like conditions, a person isn’t able to produce enough quality tears to remain comfortable. Tears are indispensible to the eye not only for its comfort, but for its integrity and health. In other words, a lack of natural moisture in the eye is not only acutely uncomfortable, but potentially dangerous to vision and must be taken seriously.
Many people have underlying medical issues which can cause dry eye, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disease. Some may even take medications that contribute to the problem of diminished tear production. At OCLI, we work to find relief for patients with dry eye and to prevent long term damage to the ocular surface resulting from a lack of tear production.
Autologous Serum Tears: Keeping it All Natural
While many conventional treatments for dry eye fail to heal epithelial cells — the cells which make up the topmost layer of the cornea — autologous serum tears do the opposite. They are manufactured from the patient’s own blood serum and plasma and contain epithelium-promoting growth factors and other vitamins and minerals found in natural tears. Put simply, this serum is a logical and ideal replacement for the natural tears those with dry eye are lacking.
How Exactly Does it Work?
Autologous means that the donor and the recipient are the same person (you), and the tears are made from your own blood. Red blood cells and clotting factors are removed, leaving behind blood serum. This serum is then diluted (spun down) with a sterile, preservative-free solution to produce a tear substitute that is unique to the patient. Since blood and tears have an almost identical salinity and pH, autologous serum tears come without the risk of burning or stinging that can accompany the use of synthetic tear substitutes.
Have No Fear of Autologous Serum Tears
In a 2008 study of autologous serum tears, as reported by Very Well Health, “All outcomes improved over time with no reported problems or significant complications.” According to the report, there was inititally concern about the possibility of bacteria growth in the samples since the serum is preservative-free and is refrigerated till the time of use. This concern, however, was proved to be unwarranted as the study showed zero bacterial growth. In fact, autologous serum tears can be stored for up to 3 months without bacterial growth occuring and its healing properties remaining intact.
Why Do You Need Them?
Because the exact chemical composition of your tears is unique, not to mention crucial to your eye health, autologous serum tears represent a superior treatment for dry eye. That’s why at OCLI, we offer state-of-the-art dry eye technology to bring you relief in the best, most natural way.
As New Jersey’s most reputable vision health providers, OCLI not only offers the latest diagnostic technology, but also a warm, friendly atmosphere for all your eye care needs. Whether you’re seeking eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions, LASIK vision correction, cataract surgery, dry eye treatment, or eye care of any kind, we’re here to help. Reach out to us today and together we’ll help see a more clear, comfortable future.
