It sounds like a treatment method more suited to battlefield conditions than the scientific rigor of an ARVO abstract. In a study of autologous serum therapy for dry eye, Scottish researchers instructed subjects to prick their fingers and directly apply a drop of blood to their eyes. This treatment was administered QID for six months.

The study recruited 19 patients who had a diagnosis of severe non-responsive dry eye and ocular surface disease and completed follow-up consultations at one, three and six months. Finding showed that topical autologous serum is a safe and effective treatment for severe dry eye and ocular surface disease. Patients using the drops experienced significantly improved ocular surface staining scores over time.

Mean ocular surface staining score at presentation was 2.13 and improved to 1.50 at one month, 1.29 at three months and then 1.42 at six months. Tear break-up time improved from 4.75 seconds at baseline to 6.79 seconds at three months and 7.0 seconds at six months. Improvement in Schirmer’s test was only found at six months (3.67mm at baseline to 13.33mm). The study found no statistical change in visual acuity during any of the intervals. Although not statistically significant, researchers found that 83% of patients reported an improvement in their Ocular Surface Disease Index quality of life score at six months.