Prescription and Advanced Care / Biologics
Autologous Serum Tears and PRP Drops
For severe or hard-to-treat dry eye, some people benefit from drops made from their own blood. Autologous serum tears and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) drops contain natural growth factors and proteins that support healing of the eye's surface. This guide explains what they are, who they tend to help, and how they are made. Dry Eye Rescue does not sell or prescribe these. They are ordered by your eye doctor and prepared by a specialized provider.
Key Takeaways
- Autologous serum tears and PRP drops are biologic eye drops made from a patient's own blood, containing growth factors and proteins that are also found in natural tears.
- They are usually reserved for severe or stubborn ocular surface disease, such as severe dry eye, Sjogren's-related dryness, graft-versus-host disease, and persistent corneal surface problems, when standard treatments have not been enough.
- No serum tear or PRP preparation is currently FDA-approved for dry eye. They are compounded and physician-ordered, which also means they are usually not covered by insurance.
- They are generally used to complement standard dry eye care, not to replace it, and there is no single best choice between serum tears and PRP.
- Dry Eye Rescue does not sell or prescribe these drops. They start with an eye doctor's evaluation. Use the Doctor Locator to find one near you.
Quick Answer: What are serum tears and PRP drops?
They are eye drops made from your own blood. For autologous serum tears, blood is drawn, allowed to separate, and the serum is diluted into drops. PRP drops are prepared similarly but are enriched with platelets, which carry extra growth factors. Both deliver natural healing factors that artificial tears cannot replicate, which is why they are used for severe ocular surface disease that has not responded to standard care. They are not FDA-approved, they are prepared by a specialized provider after your eye doctor orders them, and they work alongside the rest of your dry eye plan.
What These Drops Are
Your blood carries proteins, vitamins, and growth factors that help tissues stay healthy and repair themselves. Many of those same components are naturally present in your tears, but they are missing from standard artificial tears. Serum tears and PRP drops capture them. The serum or plasma from a sample of your blood is processed into eye drops that bathe the surface of the eye in those natural factors, supporting healing in a way ordinary lubrication cannot. Because they come from your own body, they are well tolerated by most people.
Autologous serum eye drops are made from a patient's own blood and contain proteins, growth factors, and vitamins also found in natural tears; no serum tear preparation is currently FDA-approved for ocular surface disease, so these are compounded, physician-ordered products. Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology EyeWiki and ophthalmology references.
Who They Tend to Help
These are advanced therapies, usually considered when standard treatments have not been enough. Eye doctors most often turn to them for severe or persistent ocular surface disease, including severe dry eye, dryness related to Sjogren's disease or graft-versus-host disease, neurotrophic keratitis, and corneal surface defects that are slow to heal. If your dry eye is severe, or has not improved despite a full routine of drops, lid care, and other prescriptions, this is a path worth asking your eye doctor about.
Blood-derived drops are typically reserved for severe or hard-to-treat ocular surface disease, such as severe dry eye, Sjogren's-related dryness, graft-versus-host disease, neurotrophic keratitis, and persistent corneal surface defects, when standard treatments have not been enough. Source: ophthalmology references.
Serum Tears and PRP at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| What they are | Eye drops made from a patient's own blood |
| Two main types | Autologous serum tears, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) |
| What they contain | Growth factors, vitamins, and proteins found in natural tears |
| Typically used for | Severe or hard-to-treat ocular surface disease |
| FDA status | Not FDA-approved, compounded and physician-ordered |
| How they are obtained | A blood draw, prepared by a specialized provider, kept cold and used within a set time |
Serum Tears and PRP: How They Differ
Both come from your blood, but they are prepared differently. Serum tears use the serum, the liquid left after blood clots, diluted into drops. PRP concentrates the platelets in your blood, which carry a higher load of growth factors, and some doctors prefer it where extra healing support is the goal. In practice, reviews suggest the two have broadly comparable effects, and there is no single best choice. Your eye doctor decides which fits your situation.
Reviews suggest autologous serum and PRP drops have broadly comparable effects, and they have not been shown to be better than the standard FDA-approved dry eye medicines, so they are generally used to complement rather than replace them. Source: review of ophthalmology literature.
How You Get Them
Because these drops are personalized to you, they are not something you can buy off a shelf. Your eye doctor evaluates whether they are appropriate, then orders them through a specialized provider that draws your blood, prepares the drops, and delivers them with instructions for cold storage and timing. Dry Eye Rescue partners with OcuBio, a provider of personalized autologous serum eye drops, which your eye doctor can order through. The process starts and stays with your doctor, who oversees your treatment and follow-up.
How These Fit With the Rest of Your Care
Serum and PRP drops are powerful support, but they work well as part of a full plan rather than on their own. Most people keep up the rest of their routine, including lubrication, overnight protection, and any other prescriptions, while using them. Your eye doctor ties it together.
Severe and Chronic Dry Eye
Products geared toward more severe, persistent dryness for daily support.
Moisture Protection
Masks and shields that hold moisture against the eyes overnight.
Dry Eye Rescue Tip
Two practical things to know before you start. First, because these drops are not FDA-approved, they are usually paid out of pocket, so ask about cost up front. Second, they need to be kept cold and used within a set time, so plan your storage and refills. Neither should scare you off if your doctor recommends them. They just help you go in prepared.
Find a Dry Eye Specialist Near You
Serum and PRP drops start with an exam and an eye doctor's order. Dry Eye Rescue works with a network of over 5,000 eye care professionals. Use the Doctor Locator to find one near you, or take the DryEye Q assessment to prepare for your visit.
Important Disclaimer
This page is educational and does not replace medical advice from your eye care professional or healthcare provider. Autologous serum tears and PRP drops are compounded, physician-ordered products and are not FDA-approved for dry eye or ocular surface disease, which means the FDA has not reviewed their safety, effectiveness, or quality the way it does for approved drugs. Dry Eye Rescue does not sell, dispense, or prescribe them. Whether they are appropriate, and how they are obtained and used, should be decided with a licensed eye doctor after an examination. OcuBio and other names referenced are trademarks of their respective owners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are autologous serum tears?
They are eye drops made from your own blood. The serum is separated from a blood sample and diluted into drops that contain natural growth factors, vitamins, and proteins, many of which are also found in your tears but not in artificial tears.
What is the difference between serum tears and PRP?
Both come from your blood. Serum tears use the serum left after clotting, while PRP concentrates the platelets, which carry extra growth factors. Studies suggest their effects are broadly comparable, and your eye doctor decides which fits.
Are these FDA-approved?
No. There is no FDA-approved serum tear or PRP preparation for dry eye. They are compounded, physician-ordered products, which also means they are usually not covered by insurance and are paid out of pocket.
Who are these for?
They are usually reserved for severe or stubborn ocular surface disease, including severe dry eye, dryness from Sjogren's or graft-versus-host disease, and corneal surface problems that are slow to heal, when standard care has not been enough.
Do they replace my other dry eye treatments?
Usually not. They are meant to complement the rest of your plan, not replace it. Most people keep using lubrication, overnight protection, and any other prescriptions while on them.
How do I get them?
Your eye doctor decides if they are appropriate and orders them through a specialized provider, such as our partner OcuBio, that draws your blood, prepares the drops, and delivers them with storage instructions. The process is managed by your doctor.
How are they stored?
Because they are a natural blood product, they need to be kept cold and used within a set time. Your provider will give you specific storage and timing instructions, which are important to follow.
Does Dry Eye Rescue sell serum tears?
No. These are personalized to each patient and ordered by an eye doctor. Dry Eye Rescue does not sell or prescribe them. We can help you find a doctor in our network who can evaluate whether they fit.
How do I find a doctor to discuss these?
Use the Dry Eye Rescue Doctor Locator to find an eye care professional near you from our network of over 5,000 providers. Taking the DryEye Q assessment first can help you prepare for the visit.
Talk to a Doctor About Advanced Options
If standard dry eye care has not been enough, biologic drops may be worth discussing. Find an eye care professional near you, prepare with the DryEye Q, or see all prescription options.
