Open AccessUse of Umbilical Cord Serum in Ophthalmology
Author(s) -
Kyung Chul Yoon
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chonnam medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2233-7385
pISSN - 2233-7393
DOI - 10.4068/cmj.2014.50.3.82
Subject(s) - medicine , umbilical cord , corneal epithelium , cornea , ophthalmology , pathology , immunology
Among blood preparations, serum has been topically used in the management of various ocular diseases in ophthalmology. Like peripheral blood serum, umbilical cord blood serum contains a high concentration of essential tear components, growth factors, neurotrophic factors, vitamin A, fibronectin, prealbumin, and oil. Umbilical cord serum can provide basic nutrients for epithelial renewal and can facilitate the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of the ocular surface epithelium. Eye drops made from umbilical cord serum have been applied to treat various ocular surface diseases, including severe dry eye with or without Sjögren's syndrome, ocular complications in graft-versus-host disease, persistent epithelial defects, neurotrophic keratopathy, recurrent corneal erosions, ocular chemical burn, and surface problems after corneal refractive surgery. Because mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord blood can be used to regenerate corneal tissue and retinal nerve cells, umbilical cord serum might be applied for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in the future.