The long-term effects of platelet-rich plasma in diabetic dry eye: a series of cases

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of autologous platelet -rich plasma (PRP) in the symptomatic dry eye of diabetic patients after 6 months of treatment suspension. Methods: A single intervention group, prospective study, series of cases; ten diabetic patients with refractory dry eye disease who used PRP and were reassessed 6 months after discontinuation of treatment. At the initial stage 221 diabetic patients were evaluated for dry eye, of these 12 were submitted to CPC, and evaluated for symptoms, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), TFBUT (Tear Film Break Up Time) and Schirmer’s Test. At this stage of the study, patients were recruited after 6 months of CCP suspension, and the OSDI, TFBUT and Schirmer test scores were reviewed. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the OSDI and TFBUT scores between the baseline (before PRP treatment) and after 1 month of PRP use; between the baseline and after 6 months of PRP use, and between the values after 1 month of use and after 6 months of non-use (p = 0.005, p = 0.010 and p = 0.028, p = 0.04, p = 0 , 03 and p = 0.02, respectively). Schirmer test values had no significant difference in any of the comparisons (p = 0.09, p = 0.26, p = 0.47 respectively). Conclusions: PRP after 6 months of use presents evidence that it would still be effective even with suspension of eye drops.