Eye Platelet-Rich Plasma (E-PRP) for Corneal Regeneration

After the alteration or injury of the conjunctival or corneal tissue, a biological process of regeneration occurs to restore that damaged ocular surface. This is a complex process involving the epithelial stem cells of the cornea and the conjunctiva since they are responsible for homeostasis and the regeneration of the ocular surface, as well as growth factors, cytokines and elements of the extracellular matrix. But there are situations in which by the severity of the damage or by the inability of the body itself to resolve the situation, administration of treatments is necessary to solve the problem. In this aspect, the administration of blood products as a therapeutic option has acquired great prominence, due to its biological composition and its ability to induce the regeneration of affected tissues. In this chapter we analyse the different blood derivatives used in ophthalmology, going deep into platelet-rich plasma (E-PRP). Its composition is reviewed in detail, as cell counts of platelets, red blood cells and leukocytes, as well as the different growth factors and adhesion proteins. The methods of obtaining the main autologous preparations are also indicated, and the clinical applications of the different autologous blood derivatives are discussed and compared among them to obtain relevant conclusions. We analyse how differences in the composition of each of them can affect the corneal regeneration process.