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Patient instructions

Autologous Serum Eye Drops Patient Instructions

Autologous serum eye drops are made from your own blood serum and diluted into a sterile ophthalmic preparation. They are used for some severe dry-eye or ocular surface care plans when prescribed by an eye-care prescriber. Available by prescription only.

Made from your serum

Blood serum contains components also found in natural tears. The serum is separated from the blood cells, diluted as prescribed, and packaged for eye use.

The process takes coordination

A prescription, blood collection, testing, and compounding steps may all be needed before the drops are ready. Plan refills earlier than you would for regular eye drops.

Dating depends on the batch

Use the beyond-use date and open-use directions on the pharmacy label. Do not rely on older instructions from a previous batch.

Before the Drops Are Made

  1. 1Your eye-care prescriber writes the prescription and provides the bloodwork or laboratory requisition needed for the serum preparation.
  2. 2You attend the blood collection appointment arranged by the care team or laboratory.
  3. 3The blood is processed so the serum can be separated from the blood cells.
  4. 4The serum is diluted to the concentration written on the prescription and packaged as sterile eye drops.
  5. 5The pharmacy labels the drops with storage directions, beyond-use dates, and the dose schedule chosen by the prescriber.

How to Use Each Dose

  1. 1Wash your hands before handling the bottle or vial.
  2. 2Use one bottle or vial at a time unless the pharmacy label says something different.
  3. 3Check the label, beyond-use date, and appearance before each dose. Do not use drops that look cloudy, discoloured, or contaminated.
  4. 4Tilt your head back, pull down the lower eyelid, and place one drop into the pocket without touching the tip to the eye, lashes, fingers, or skin.
  5. 5Close the eye gently for about one minute. If you use other eye drops, follow the spacing instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist.
  6. 6Put the cap back on right away and return the drops to the storage condition on the label.

Storage and Transport

  • Keep unopened bottles or vials frozen if the label says they must remain frozen.
  • Keep the bottle you are using in the refrigerator unless your label gives different directions.
  • Do not leave serum drops at room temperature except for the short time needed to give a dose.
  • Use a cooler with an ice pack for transport. Keep the bottle dry and avoid direct contact between the bottle and ice.
  • Discard each bottle or vial at the beyond-use date or open-use limit printed on the label, even if liquid remains.

When to Call

  • The drops were left out, warmed, refrozen after thawing, or you are unsure whether they stayed cold enough.
  • The liquid looks cloudy, has particles, changes colour, or the bottle tip touched the eye or another surface.
  • You develop eye pain, new redness, discharge, swelling, worsening vision, or symptoms that feel different from your usual dry-eye pattern.
  • You are running low. Serum drops can take longer to arrange than regular refills because blood collection, testing, and preparation steps may be involved.
  • Your dose, concentration, eye(s), or storage instructions differ between the prescription, label, and clinic directions.

For prescribers and care teams

Prescription Details We Usually Need

We do not currently have a separate downloadable autologous serum eye-drop prescription template on the site. The atropine eye-drop template does not cover this preparation.

  • Serum concentration, such as 20%, 25%, 40%, or 50%, if selected by the prescriber.
  • Which eye or eyes to treat.
  • Dose frequency and spacing from other eye drops.
  • Quantity, bottle or vial format, refills, and whether the patient needs a new blood draw before future batches.
  • Any required microbiology, virology, or laboratory testing before preparation begins.