In a groundbreaking medical achievement, specialists at London’s Moorfields Eye Hospital have successfully reversed vision loss in patients suffering from hypotony, a rare and devastating eye condition previously considered untreatable. The world’s first dedicated clinic for this disorder has developed a pioneering therapy using a transparent hydrogel that has produced life-changing results in clinical trials.
The innovative treatment utilizes hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPCM), a low-cost, water-based gel already employed in certain ocular surgeries. Unlike previous approaches that used vision-obscuring silicone oil, this clear substance allows light to pass through unimpeded when injected into the eye’s main chamber. The procedure is administered every three to four weeks over approximately ten months.
Among the success stories is 47-year-old Nicki Guy, the first patient to undergo the experimental therapy. Her vision had deteriorated dramatically following the birth of her son in 2017, leaving her partially sighted and dependent on memory for navigation. “I’ve gone from counting fingers and everything being really blurry to being able to see,” she revealed exclusively to the BBC. “It’s given me everything back. I can see my child grow up.”
Medical director Mr. Harry Petrushkin described the decision to attempt the unproven treatment as “nerve-wracking” but necessary for patients facing certain blindness. The team has now treated 35 patients under funding from Moorfields Eye Charity, with published results from the first eight cases showing seven responded positively to the therapy. Researchers continue to refine patient selection criteria to identify those with remaining viable retinal cells who could benefit most from this remarkable intervention.