HPMC Gel Lets 7 of 8 Hypotony Patients Regain Sight

Moorfields Eye Hospital in London reports that 12 months of fortnightly injections of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) restored the shape of the eyeball and recovered vision in seven out of eight patients with hypotony, a rare disorder that affects about 100 people in the UK each year. The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, involved eight patients who received HPMC every two weeks for a year; side‑effects were reported as minimal. Consultant ophthalmologist Harry Petrushkin noted that the clear gel acts like a cosmetic filler, filling the eye to its normal volume. Patient Nicki Guy, a 47‑year‑old participant, says the treatment has nearly returned her ability to drive and ski. Moorfields hopes to expand trials with other gels.