WHAT ARE AUTOLOGOUS SERUM EYE DROPS?
Eye Doctors 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.
- Preservative free
- custom made for each patient to the exact specifications advised by their doctor
- microfiltered
- processed in a medical laboratory using validated safety procedures.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. 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.
2. How much does it cost?
The cost is based on the treatment plan that your doctor has ordered.
3. 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:
4. How much blood is drawn?
Depending on your 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.
5. What do I need to do to prepare for by blood draw?
The most important thing you can do to ensure a successful blood draw is hydrate. Please try to consume half your body weight in ounces of water in the 24 hours leading up to your blood draw. For best results you should also avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol, and high fat foods for 24 hours before your blood draw appointment. You do not need to fast before the blood draw.
6. How is it stored?
Because the autologous serum tears are made from biological material and are preservative free, they must be kept refrigerated.
Your Autologous Serum Tears will be shipped cold or frozen. Store the bottle of tears you are using in the refrigerator
and put the remaining vials upright in the freezer. A bottle will last for one week in the refrigerator. Stop using the bottle and discard it after seven days. The bottles stored in the freezer are good for six months.
7. What do I do when traveling with the serum tears?
If your serum tears must be out of the refrigerator for more than one hour, carry them in a cooler with ice or frozen
gel packs. You may also use a portable medicine cooler to store your tears when away from home.
1. 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.
2. How much does it cost?
The cost is based on the treatment plan that your doctor has ordered.
3. 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 closes to you. 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.
4. How much blood is drawn?
Depending on your 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.
5. What do I need to do to prepare for by blood draw?
The most important thing you can do to ensure a successful blood draw is hydrate. Please try to consume half your body weight in ounces of water in the 24 hours leading up to your blood draw. For best results you should also avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol, and high fat foods for 24 hours before your blood draw appointment. You do not need to fast before the blood draw.
6. How is it stored?
Because the autologous serum tears are made from biological material and are preservative free, they must be kept refrigerated.
Your Autologous Serum Tears will be shipped cold or frozen. Store the bottle of tears you are using in the refrigerator
and put the remaining vials upright in the freezer. A bottle will last for one week in the refrigerator. Stop using the bottle and discard it after seven days. The bottles stored in the freezer are good for six months.
7. What do I do when traveling with the serum tears?
If your serum tears must be out of the refrigerator for more than one hour, carry them in a cooler with ice or frozen
gel packs. You may also use a portable medicine cooler to store your tears when away from home.