WHAT ARE AUTOLOGOUS SERUM EYE DROPS?
Ophthalmologists and optometrists have offered serum tears to their patients for over 30 years.
Autologous serum eye drops (ASEDs), autologous serum tears (ASTs), serum tears or blood serum are customized drops made from a patient’s own blood to those suffering from certain ocular surface conditions.
Your doctor will discuss the benefits of serum tears and the options available to you. If you are a good candidate for serum tears, our doctor will start a treatment plan tailored for your eyes.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How much blood is drawn?
Depending on your Eye Doctor’s order, between three and 14 vials of blood will be drawn and processed. This may sound like a lot, but it is less than a few ounces. Since you are not giving much blood, you should feel fine afterwards.
2. Is it covered by insurance?
While some insurance companies reimburse for autologous serum eye drops when patients submit a claim, generally it is a self-pay service. Our partner Patient Services team can provide forms to help you submit a claim to your insurance provider.
3. How much does it cost?
The cost is based on the treatment plan that your doctor has ordered.
4. What is the process?
When the doctor decides that autologous serum tears are right for you, we make it easy to get started.
Our partner facility will:
- call to schedule your blood draw at one of their contracted blood collection facilities. You can also choose to have your blood drawn at home. Please note that the time required to schedule a mobile blood draw depends on your geographic location and availability.
- Once your blood is collected, it will be shipped to their laboratory where trained technicians will process your serum tears.
- When your tears are ready to ship, they will call you to schedule delivery. It’s important to note that the serum tears are shipped cold or frozen, so you’ll need to be available to sign for the delivery. Your tears are typically ready to ship within 48 hours of your blood draw, so expect a call the day after your blood draw appointment.
1. How much blood is drawn?
Depending on your Eye Doctor’s order, between three and 14 vials of blood will be drawn and processed. This may sound like a lot, but it is less than a few ounces. Since you are not giving much blood, you should feel fine afterwards.
2. Is it covered by insurance?
While some insurance companies reimburse for autologous serum eye drops when patients submit a claim, generally it is a self-pay service. Our partner Patient Services team can provide forms to help you submit a claim to your insurance provider.
3. How much does it cost?
The cost is based on the treatment plan that your doctor has ordered.
4. What is the process?
When the doctor decides that autologous serum tears are right for you, we make it easy to get started.
Our partner facility will:
- call to schedule your blood draw at one of their contracted blood collection facilities. You can also choose to have your blood drawn at home. Please note that the time required to schedule a mobile blood draw depends on your geographic location and availability.
- Once your blood is collected, it will be shipped to their laboratory where trained technicians will process your serum tears.
- When your tears are ready to ship, they will call you to schedule delivery. It’s important to note that the serum tears are shipped cold or frozen, so you’ll need to be available to sign for the delivery. Your tears are typically ready to ship within 48 hours of your blood draw, so expect a call the day after your blood draw appointment.