A new eye disease preparation made possible by blood donors
The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service will begin supplying serum eye drops to patients suffering from severe dry eye and ocular surface diseases. This is a new preparation made from serum separated from donated blood, which facilitates the treatment of eye disease patients.
Serum eye drops are made from serum separated from donated blood. The serum contains natural nutrients, vitamins, and growth factors that support the healing of the eye’s surface tissues and relieve inflammation. The eye drops are intended for patients with severe dry eye, for example due to eye diseases, rheumatic diseases, or rejection after a stem cell transplant. Previously, eye drops were made for some patients from their own serum. Drops made from donated blood now make treatment possible for more patients.
“The new operating model makes the treatment of eye diseases easier. Not all patients’ own serum has been suitable for making eye drops, but serum drops made from donated blood do not have this limitation. Patients no longer need to donate their own blood for the preparation of serum eye drops, and the product is delivered to their home,” says Jukka Moilanen, the Head Physician of Eye Diseases division at Helsinki University Hospital (HUS).
Preparations initially for patients treated by Helsinki University Hospital
The Blood Service has made its first delivery agreement for serum eye drops for the needs of patients at the HUS eye diseases, that is a new type of production and delivery model. The number of patients and production capacity can be gradually increased, so the preparation can also be delivered elsewhere in Finland.
Donors enable the new treatment
For serum donation, blood is currently collected at the Blood Service’s facility in Seinäjoki.
“Donors feel they play an important role in helping patients and have been pleased to be able to help in a new way,” says Anu Keisala, Operational Manager of Blood Donation.
Male donors with blood group AB are needed for the preparation of serum eye drops. Serum is not collected from women due to possible tissue antibodies from pregnancy. The criteria for serum donation are the same as for blood donation.
“There is a clear need for the new serum eye drop preparation, and it has been great to be involved in enabling this new form of treatment. We have worked closely with the HUS Eye Clinic to get the eye drops to patients,” says Anita Laitinen, Head of the Advanced Cell Therapy Centre at the Blood Service.
