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Autologous serum tears are eye drops made from a patient's own blood serum. Blood is drawn, processed, diluted when needed, and prepared into sterile drop containers by a qualified lab or compounding pharmacy. These drops are used for severe dry eye and certain ocular surface problems when standard lubrication is not enough. They are not the same as over-the-counter artificial tears.
read more about autologous serum tears ...Serum contains growth factors, vitamins, proteins, and other components also found in natural tears. These components can help support the ocular surface in selected patients. Autologous serum tears aim to lubricate the eye while supplying biologic tear-like ingredients. The concentration and dosing schedule depend on the prescriber's plan and the compounding process.
Eye doctors can recommend autologous serum tears for severe dry eye disease, Sj?gren-related dry eye, persistent epithelial defects, neurotrophic keratitis, graft-versus-host disease, or other complex ocular surface disease. They are considered when standard artificial tears, gels, ointments, or prescription dry eye drops do not give enough relief. They can be part of a broader plan that also treats eyelid disease, inflammation, or exposure. Follow-up helps the doctor judge healing and comfort.
The process starts with a blood draw from the patient. The blood is processed to separate serum from blood cells, then the serum is prepared into eye drop containers under controlled conditions. Some preparations are diluted with sterile saline or another sterile solution. Because the drops come from a patient's own blood, they require careful handling, storage, and labeling.
Autologous serum tears can become contaminated if handled or stored incorrectly. They are commonly kept frozen until needed, with an opened container stored in the refrigerator for the time directed by the lab or prescriber. Patients should avoid touching the dropper tip to the eye, eyelids, lashes, or skin. Redness, pain, discharge, swelling, or sudden vision changes should be reported promptly.
Yes, autologous serum tears are made from the patient's own blood serum. The serum is processed into sterile eye drops by a qualified facility.
No, they are different. Artificial tears lubricate the eye surface, while autologous serum tears contain biologic components from the patient's serum.
Yes, storage instructions are strict and can include freezing unopened containers and refrigerating the container in use. Follow the lab and prescriber's directions exactly.
Autologous serum tears are customized biologic preparations rather than standard over-the-counter eye drops. Availability, preparation, and oversight can vary, so patients should use them only through an eye doctor's treatment plan.
Autologous and Allogenic Serum Tears. EyeWiki. https://eyewiki.org/Autologous_and_Allogenic_Serum_Tears. Date Accessed June 3, 2026.
Autologous Serum-Based Eye Drops for Treatment of Ocular Surface Disease. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/ophthalmic-technology-assessment/autologous-serum-based-eye-drops-treatment-of-ocul. Date Accessed June 3, 2026.
Autologous serum eye drops in dry eye disease. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10276663/. Date Accessed June 3, 2026.
Autologous serum eye drops for dry eye. Cochrane Library. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009327.pub3/full. Date Accessed June 3, 2026.
Eye drops made from autologous serum as treatment for dry eye. Cochrane. https://www.cochrane.org/evidence/CD009327_eye-drops-made-autologous-serum-treatment-dry-eye. Date Accessed June 3, 2026.