To investigate the effects of mixed platelet-rich plasma (mix PRP) eye drop on the healing of persistent corneal epithelial defects.

Mixed PRP eye drops were prepared with a specific ratio of autologous platelet-rich plasma and cryoprecipitate, aliquoted to sterile multidose vials. Fifty patients with persistent corneal epithelial defects were treated with mix PRP eye drops four times a day. The patients were categorized into post-surgical, post-transplantation, dry eyes, chemical burns and miscellaneous subgroups. Slitlamp biomicroscopic examinations together with photoslit photography were performed at the baseline and weekly until complete healing. Mean duration of treatment between subgroups was analyzed by ANOVA test. Moreover, mean duration of corneal defect before and after initiation of the treatment was compared by paired t-test.

Mean duration of treatment in the post-surgical subgroup (2.5 ± 1.8 wk) was not significantly different from the post-transplantation (3.2 ± 2.3 wk), dry eyes (2.0 ± 0.0 wk), chemical burns (2.1 ± 0.8 wk), and miscellaneous (1.8 ± 1.2 wk) subgroups. Mean duration of corneal defect after initiation of treatment (2.65 ± 1.84 w) was significantly less than what before the treatment (5.35 ± 1.06 wk) (P value < 0.001); i.e. mixed PRP eye drops led to rapid healing of persistent corneal epithelial defects in all subgroups.

Treatment with autologous mixed PRP eye drops seems to be an effective and reliable approach that accelerates epithelial would healing in cases with persistent corneal epithelial defects of various etiologies.