Ocular surface · autologous biologic
PRP eyedrops.
Autologous platelet-rich plasma, prepared from your own blood and formulated as topical eyedrops, for moderate-to-severe dry eye and ocular surface disease that hasn't responded to standard care.
What PRP eyedrops can help with
Conditions PRP eyedrops are most often used for.
PRP eyedrops are generally considered for ocular surface disease that persists despite artificial tears, prescription drops, and other standard measures. Fit is determined with your eye-care provider.
Moderate-to-severe dry eye
Aqueous-deficient and evaporative dry eye not controlled by artificial tears.
Persistent epithelial defects
Corneal surface wounds that are slow to close after injury or surgery.
Recurrent corneal erosion
Repeated breakdown of the corneal surface, often worst on waking.
Neurotrophic keratopathy
Reduced corneal sensation with impaired surface healing.
Sjögren's & autoimmune
Ocular surface disease in Sjögren's syndrome and related conditions.
Post-LASIK & surgical
Post-LASIK dry eye and ocular surface symptoms after corneal procedures.
Graft-versus-host
Ocular GVHD-related dryness and surface breakdown after transplant.
Other ocular surface
Co-managed case-by-case with your eye-care provider.
Learn
What are PRP eyedrops?
PRP eyedrops are a topical, autologous therapy made from a small sample of your own blood. The blood is centrifuged to concentrate platelets, and that platelet-rich fraction is formulated into sterile dropper bottles you use at home.
Platelets are tiny blood cells that store growth factors, signaling proteins that can help the surface cells of the eye grow and move in to cover damaged areas. The best studied are EGF, PDGF, TGF-β, and FGF. The plasma around the platelets also carries vitamin A and other proteins found in natural tears. As a drop on the eye, PRP may support the eye's own repair and help settle inflammation. It's the same principle as injected PRP, adapted for the cornea and tear film.
Because the drops are derived from your own blood, they more closely resemble natural tears than artificial tears do, and they are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.
Regulatory Disclaimer
Autologous PRP eyedrops are a biologic product prepared from a patient's own blood. They have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of dry eye or other ocular surface diseases. Clinical use is based on physician judgment, current scientific evidence, and individualized patient evaluation, in co-management with the patient's eye-care provider where appropriate. No claims are made regarding guaranteed outcomes, tissue regeneration, or cure.
The procedure, step by step
How PRP eyedrops are prepared.
A single in-clinic blood draw produces a supply of drops you take home. Most of the visit is lab processing time.
Consultation & review
We review your diagnosis and prior treatments, and coordinate with your eye-care provider where appropriate.
Blood collection
A single venous draw into anticoagulated tubes, volume sized for your dosing supply.
Centrifugation
Controlled centrifugation concentrates the platelet-rich fraction in our on-site lab.
Sterile formulation
The PRP is formulated and aliquoted into individual sterile dropper bottles under controlled conditions.
Dispense & instructions
You take home a frozen supply with storage, handling, and dosing instructions. Refrigerate the bottle in use.
Preparing your own platelets, checking them, and delivering them safely is the center of our work, the same lab work behind our orthopedic care. We're a PRP and orthobiologics practice, not an eye clinic, so we work alongside the ophthalmologist or optometrist who diagnoses and follows your eye condition.
How it compares
PRP eyedrops, serum drops, and artificial tears.
All three address dryness, but they differ in what they actually deliver to the ocular surface. The right choice depends on your diagnosis.
Artificial tears
Over-the-counter lubricants that supplement the tear film. They relieve symptoms but contain none of the biologic proteins of natural tears.
Lubrication only · no growth factors
Autologous serum drops
Made from your own blood but platelet-poor. They supply tear-like proteins and vitamins, with lower levels of platelet-derived growth factors.
Tear proteins · vitamins · lower growth factors
PRP eyedrops
Made from your own blood and platelet-concentrated, so the drops carry higher levels of platelet-derived growth factors alongside tear-like proteins.
Concentrated platelet growth factors + tear proteins
These differences come from the studies listed at the bottom of this page. Which preparation is appropriate is an individualized clinical decision. See plasma & serum eye drops →
Talking it through
When PRP eyedrops are worth considering.
PRP eyedrops are usually considered after standard treatments, and they're used together with the care your eye-care provider directs.
What we look at together
- Moderate-to-severe dry eye or ocular surface disease diagnosed by your eye-care provider
- Symptoms persisting through artificial tears, prescription drops, and lid care
- Conditions such as Sjögren's, neurotrophic keratopathy, or recurrent erosion
- Willing to self-administer drops several times daily and store them as directed
- Realistic expectations: gradual improvement, reassessed over weeks
PRP eyedrops, answered
Questions about PRP eyedrops.
How are PRP eyedrops different from artificial tears? +
Artificial tears lubricate the eye but contain none of the biologic signaling proteins found in natural tears. PRP eyedrops are made from your own blood and carry concentrated growth factors from platelets plus tear-like proteins. Beyond adding moisture, they may support the surface of the eye biologically.
How do PRP eyedrops compare to autologous serum drops? +
Both are made from your own blood. Autologous serum drops are platelet-poor and supply tear-like proteins and vitamins. PRP concentrates platelets, so the drops carry higher levels of platelet-derived growth factors. Which preparation is appropriate depends on your diagnosis and is decided together with your eye-care provider.
What conditions are PRP eyedrops used for? +
Most often moderate-to-severe dry eye disease, persistent corneal epithelial defects, recurrent corneal erosion, neurotrophic keratopathy, ocular graft-versus-host disease, and ocular surface disease in conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome, typically after standard therapies have not been enough.
How do I store and use the drops? +
Your supply is dispensed as individual sterile dropper bottles. The bulk supply is kept frozen, and the bottle in use is refrigerated. You self-administer the drops several times a day on the schedule your provider prescribes. Because they're made from your own blood, an allergic reaction to the drops is unlikely.
What are the risks and side effects? +
The blood draw can leave a bruise or make you feel lightheaded for a few minutes. In the eye, the most common effects are brief stinging or blurred vision right after a drop. Because the drops contain no preservatives, a bottle that is handled or stored the wrong way can grow bacteria and cause an eye infection. We show you how to store the bottles, how long each one lasts once opened, and when to throw it away. Call us at 720-550-6175 and contact your eye-care provider right away if your eye becomes red, painful, or sensitive to light, or if your vision gets worse.
Is this FDA-approved, and does insurance cover it? +
Autologous PRP eyedrops are prepared from your own blood and are not approved by the FDA as a drug for ocular surface disease. Clinical use is based on physician judgment and individualized evaluation. The preparation is generally considered investigational by insurers and is typically out-of-pocket; we provide documentation for HSA/FSA reimbursement where applicable.
Selected references
What the peer-reviewed literature says.
The studies behind the information on this page, covering dry eye, Sjögren's, slow-healing corneal defects, and eye-surface problems after surgery. Ask for the full papers at your consultation.
- Zhang Y, Li N, Ge Z, Li F. Blood component therapy for dry eye disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024;11:1500160.
- Kang MJ, Lee JH, Hwang J, Chung SH. Efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma and autologous-serum eye drops for dry eye in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a randomized trial. Sci Rep. 2023;13:19279.
- Alió JL, Rodriguez AE, Ferreira-Oliveira R, Wróbel-Dudzińska D, Abdelghany AA. Treatment of dry eye disease with autologous platelet-rich plasma: a prospective, interventional, non-randomized study. Ophthalmol Ther. 2017;6(2):285–293.
- Metheetrairut C, Ngowyutagon P, Tunganuntarat A, et al. Comparison of epitheliotrophic factors in platelet-rich plasma versus autologous serum and their treatment efficacy in dry eye disease. Sci Rep. 2022;12:8906.
- López-Plandolit S, Morales MC, Freire V, Etxebarría J, Durán JA. Plasma rich in growth factors as a therapeutic agent for persistent corneal epithelial defects. Cornea. 2010;29(8):843–848.
- Kim KM, Shin YT, Kim HK. Effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma on persistent corneal epithelial defect after infectious keratitis. Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2012;56(6):544–550.
- Alió JL, Pastor S, Ruiz-Colecha J, Rodriguez A, Artola A. Treatment of ocular surface syndrome after LASIK with autologous platelet-rich plasma. J Refract Surg. 2007;23(6):617–619.
- Anitua E, Muruzabal F, Tayebba A, Riestra A, Perez VL, Merayo-Lloves J, et al. Autologous serum and plasma rich in growth factors in ophthalmology: preclinical and clinical studies. Acta Ophthalmol. 2015;93(8):e605–e614.
Related therapies
Other ways we put PRP to work.
Schedule a call
Find out if PRP eyedrops fit your case.
Dr. Glowney reviews your diagnosis, prior treatments, and imaging, and coordinates with your eye-care provider, then gives an honest recommendation on whether PRP eyedrops are the right next step.
720-550-6175