HPMC gel used in eye surgery restores sight to people with untreatable hypotony, scientists say

Monday, 12 January 2026 

Common Eye Surgery Gel Restores Sight in Patients with Rare Blinding Condition

A low-cost gel commonly used in eye surgery has restored vision to people suffering from a rare and previously untreatable condition that causes blindness, scientists have revealed.

Researchers at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London found that hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) successfully restored sight in seven out of eight patients diagnosed with hypotony, a condition marked by abnormally low pressure inside the eyeball.

Hypotony affects around 100 people in the UK each year and often leads to distortion of the eye’s shape and severe vision loss. After 12 months of fortnightly HPMC injections, researchers observed that the eyes of patients regained their normal shape, significantly improving vision.

HPMC is a clear, colourless gel routinely used in most eye operations to help maintain the eye’s shape during surgery, protect its surface, and prevent dryness. However, it is typically washed out at the end of procedures.

Consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields, Mr Harry Petrushkin, explained that while patients undergoing eye surgery are usually exposed to the gel, its long-term therapeutic use for hypotony represents a new approach.

“It’s a really safe substance, not dissimilar to cosmetic fillers,” he said. “In this context, it fills the eye with something transparent, allowing us to restore it to the correct size so vision can improve.”

He likened the treatment to inflating a ball to its proper size, noting that restoring the eye’s structure allows patients to see much more clearly.

Hypotony can result from various diseases, trauma, inflammation, or complications following eye surgery. Current treatment often involves silicone oil injections, which can be toxic and problematic over long periods.

“The advantage of using a gel rather than silicone oil is that you can see through it much better,” Mr Petrushkin added.

The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, followed eight hypotony patients who received HPMC injections every two weeks. After a year of treatment, seven patients regained their sight, with no serious side effects reported. In some cases, injections were discontinued once the eye returned to its normal size.

Nicki Guy, 47, one of the study participants who has been treated at Moorfields since 2019, described the outcome as “phenomenal.”

“I’m so close to being able to drive again with my vision in my left eye,” she said. “I’ve been able to take my son skiing and start taking photographs again. From where I was before, this is just incredible.”

So far, Moorfields has treated 35 hypotony patients using the HPMC method, with results continuing to hold up. Mr Petrushkin said he is now seeking funding for a larger clinical trial to compare different gels and identify options that require fewer injections.

Researchers say the findings could mark a major breakthrough in the treatment of hypotony and offer renewed hope to patients affected by the condition.