Maternal finger-prick allogenic blood for persistent corneal epithelial defects

This is a case of a 17-year-old patient with aniridia-related keratopathy and persistent epithelial defect (PED) treated successfully using maternal finger-prick blood (FPB). Maternal allogenic FPB treatment was initiated to the patient who was non-compliant with the use of autologous FPB. The PED was successfully managed with maternal FPB treatment with rapid and complete closure of the epithelial defect. Additionally, there was immediate and sustained symptomatic improvement to pain and recovery of vision in the only seeing eye. There was no immunological reaction to allogenic blood. Maternal finger-prick allogenic blood could serve as a potential alternative to serum eye drops or autologous FPB in the management of refractory PED, particularly in reference to the paediatric or the vulnerable age group. Further studies are required to confirm the role of allogenic blood in the treatment of PED.