By prescription only
Eye drops made from you.
For dry eye that artificial tears haven't fixed. Your own serum, prepared by a licensed pharmacy, prescribed by an eye doctor near you and delivered cold to your door.
2-minute assessment · Free · No commitment
- Prescribed by licensed eye doctors
- Prepared by licensed pharmacies
- Shipped frozen to your door
- Source
- Your own serum
- Preservatives
- None
- Concentration
- 20–100%, as prescribed
- Clinical use since
- 1975
Who it's for
When moisture alone isn't enough.
Eye doctors typically consider serum tears for these conditions. An exam determines whether they're right for you.
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Severe dry eye
Not improved with artificial tears or prescription drops.
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Sjögren's & autoimmune
Autoimmune conditions that affect the eyes' tear production.
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Ocular GVHD
Graft-versus-host disease of the eye after stem cell transplant.
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Slow-healing cornea
Persistent surface defects, including after eye surgery.
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Neurotrophic keratitis
Reduced corneal sensation that impairs healing.
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Not sure?
Take the 2-minute assessment. If serum tears may fit, we'll connect you with a partner eye doctor for an exam.
See if you qualify
General information only, not a diagnosis.
What's in a tear
Your tears are more than water.
A healthy tear film is three layers, and its watery middle layer carries proteins, vitamins and growth factors that help the eye's surface protect and repair itself. Serum, the clear part of your blood, contains many of the same ingredients.
- Growth factors EGF, TGF-β
Signal surface cells to grow and repair.
- Vitamin A
Keeps surface cells healthy. Serum contains more than natural tears.
- Fibronectin
Helps cells attach and close small surface wounds.
- Albumin
A protective protein that helps shield surface cells from stress.
- Antimicrobial proteins Lysozyme, lactoferrin
Help defend the eye against infection.
- Water and salts
Keep the surface moist. This is what most artificial tears replace.
What each option contains
| Component | Natural tears | Autera serum tears | Artificial tears |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water and salts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Growth factors | Yes | Yes | No |
| Vitamin A | Yes | Higher | No |
| Fibronectin | Yes | Yes | No |
| Albumin | Yes | Yes | No |
| Antimicrobial proteins | Yes | Lower | No |
| Free of preservatives | Yes | Yes | Some brands |
| Made for one person | Yes | Yes | No |
PresentPartly or lowerAbsent
Why serum tears
Not just wetter. Closer to the real thing.
Artificial tears add moisture. Serum tears add many of the ingredients your eye uses to protect and heal its surface, which is why eye doctors turn to them when lubrication alone hasn't worked.
-
01
They support healing, not just moisture
Growth factors, vitamin A and fibronectin help the cells of the cornea repair themselves. Artificial tears contain none of them.
-
02
Nothing synthetic, no preservatives
Made from your own blood, with no added preservatives that can irritate an already damaged surface with frequent use.
-
03
Strength tailored to you
Your eye doctor sets the concentration, from 20% to 100% serum, and can adjust it between batches based on how you respond.
-
04
Backed by clinical research
A 2017 Cochrane review found serum tears may improve symptoms more than artificial tears in the short term. Longer-term evidence is still being gathered.
How it works
We coordinate everything.
You just use the drops.
Serum tears need a blood draw, sterile pharmacy preparation, cold-chain delivery and regular refills. Most practices aren't set up for that, so we are.
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01
Online intake
Tell us about your symptoms. We match you with an Autera-partner eye doctor near you.
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02
Eye exam
Your doctor decides whether serum tears are appropriate and writes the prescription.
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03
Blood draw
At home or at a location nearby, typically about twice a year.
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04
Prepared & delivered
A licensed pharmacy prepares your drops. They ship frozen to your home.
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05
Follow-up
Refills, symptom check-ins, and updates shared with your doctor.
Personalized care
Made from you.
Adjusted for you.
No two batches are the same. Between batches we track how your eyes respond, and your doctor can refine the strength or dosing for the next one.
- Your biology. The proteins and growth factors come from your own blood, not a lab formula.
- Measured. A standard dry eye questionnaire and usage check-ins between batches.
- Refined. Your doctor sees your results and adjusts your next prescription.
Symptom score trend, shared with your doctor
The evidence
Five decades of clinical use.
First described in 1975 and studied in many trials since, including randomized comparisons with artificial tears.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Systematic review of autologous serum eye drops for dry eye
Pan Q, Angelina A, Marrone M, Stark WJ, Akpek EK. View on PubMed 2020American Academy of Ophthalmology
Ophthalmic Technology Assessment of serum-based eye drops for ocular surface disease
Shtein RM, et al. Ophthalmology. View on PubMedSwissmedic
Switzerland authorizes a serum eye drop as a medicine for dry eye
Summary report on authorisation: Serum autolog KSGR, eye drops.Limitations. Studies vary in how drops are prepared, and there is no single standard protocol yet. Serum tears are not FDA-approved in the US; they are prepared by licensed pharmacies on a doctor's prescription.
Pricing
One plan.
Everything coordinated.
Serum tears are usually paid out of pocket today. Every cost is shown before you start, and we'll tell you what to ask your insurer.
AUTERA CARE PLAN
Clear pricing
Your exact cost is shown after your assessment and exam, before anything is prepared or shipped.
- Matching with a partner eye doctor
- Blood draw scheduling, at home or nearby
- Licensed pharmacy preparation
- Cold-chain home delivery and refills
- Symptom check-ins shared with your doctor
Eye exam fees are billed by your eye doctor and may be covered by insurance.
For eye care professionals
Prescribe serum tears without the setup.
You examine and prescribe. Autera coordinates the draw, licensed pharmacy preparation, delivery and follow-up, and shares patient-reported outcomes with your practice.
Become a partner provider- 01No in-house compounding or cold storage
- 02Patient-reported outcomes shared with your practice
- 03Refills and logistics handled for your patients
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Bring these to your eye doctor too: what's causing my dry eye, have we tried the usual treatments first, and how would we measure progress?
Why is there an assessment?
Serum tears are a prescription treatment, usually considered after other options have been tried. The assessment helps us understand your history so we only move forward when an exam is likely to be worthwhile. It is not a diagnosis; only your eye doctor can decide.
What does it cost?
Serum tears are usually paid out of pocket today. Your exact cost depends on the concentration and dosing your doctor prescribes, and it is always shown before anything is prepared or shipped. Eye exam fees are billed by your eye doctor.
Is it covered by insurance?
Usually not yet, though some plans have begun to cover it. We can tell you what to ask your insurer.
Do I need a prescription?
Yes. A licensed eye doctor examines you and decides whether serum tears are appropriate, then sets the concentration. We help you find a partner doctor near you.
How are the drops used and stored?
Typically one drop several times a day, as prescribed. Vials are kept frozen; one vial at a time is kept in the refrigerator and replaced weekly.
How often do I need a blood draw?
Typically about twice a year, at home or at a location near you. Each draw makes a batch of drops for you alone.
Where is Autera available?
We are onboarding partner eye doctors and pharmacies region by region. Complete the assessment and we will contact you as soon as there is a partner eye doctor near you.
Not for everyone
See if serum tears may be right for you.
Answer a few questions about your symptoms and what you've tried. If serum tears may fit, we'll match you with a partner eye doctor for an exam.
Start the assessment- 01Your symptoms
How often dry eye affects your day, and for how long.
- 02Your history
Diagnoses and the treatments you've already tried.
- 03Your results
Whether serum tears may be worth discussing, and what happens next.