Role of Adjuvant Autologous Serum in Fungal Corneal Ulcer Healing: A Randomized Controlled Trial

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

To study the role of autologous serum in fungal corneal ulcers in addition to standard of care

INCLUSION CRITERIA

KOH stain positive  Fungal corneal ulcers with mild to moderate grade in severity patients will be included in the study .

Mild corneal ulcer   includes ulcers with less than 2 mm in size,  less than 20 percent  depth of infiltrate

Moderate corneal ulcer include ulcers  with 2to5 mm in size, 20 to 50 percent  depth of infiltrate

 EXCLUSION CRITERIA include  Bacterial and mixed corneal ulcers, Ulcers warranting immediate surgical intervention (impending perforation or  perforated ulcer), Endophthalmitis,  Known allergy to study medications ,Previous keratoplasty in involved eye Unwilling or unable to participate or follow up,Pregnant or breast-feeding females, Clinical evidence of herpetic keratitis,  Age less than 16 years and Hepatitis B, C, HIV and Syphilis patients

INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT

Total 40 patients  who fulfilled the eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned  in two groups with 20 patients in each group

Group A will receiveStandard antifungal therapy. Group B will receiveStandard antifungal therapy with  50 percent Autologous serum eye drops  in the dose of one drop 6 times a day.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome

Time to re-epithelisation

Secondary outcomes includeBest spectacle-corrected visual acuity at 3 months,   Infiltrate size or  scar size,,Ulcer depth, Time to ulcer healing.

No of eyes requiring surgical procedures like  cyanoacrylate glue adhesive or  therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty or Amniotic Membrane Transplant.

 FOLLOW-UP

Patients will be assessed at baseline, day 3, 7, 14, 21, 30,60 and 90.

Outcome will be assessed at 3 months.