Low-Cost Eye Gel Shows Hope for Certain Vision Loss Patients

A simple and inexpensive clear surgical gel has helped restore vision in 7 out of 8 patients suffering from a condition called chronic hypotony (very low eye pressure),

Doctors at Moorfields Eye Hospital (UK) treated patients whose eyes had collapsed due to long-term low pressure. By giving repeated injections of a clear gel called HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose), doctors were able to restore the eye’s shape and improve vision.

👁️ How It Works

• Low eye pressure causes the eye wall to sag.

• This leads to blurred or distorted vision.

• The gel helps “re-inflate” the eye and maintain proper shape.

• As the structure stabilizes, vision improves gradually.

⚠️ Important Points

• Treatment required injections every 2–4 weeks.

• It works only if the optic nerve is not permanently damaged.

• Some side effects like inflammation were reported but were manageable.

• Larger studies are still needed to confirm long-term safety.

🚫 Not a Cure for All Blindness

This treatment does not restore vision in cases where the optic nerve is destroyed (such as advanced glaucoma).

Patients with persistent low eye pressure should consult a qualified ophthalmologist for proper evaluation.

Detail study by :BJO

Why oil was a problem

Before HPMC, doctors often filled the eye with silicone oil, a thick liquid used to support fragile retinas.

Long-term oil can trigger complications like high eye pressure and corneal damage, and it can blur the view for doctors.

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

That clearer window could help clinicians monitor the retina, spot swelling earlier, and decide sooner whether a patient needs another injection.

Side effects stayed manageable

The pilot did not look risk-free, but the team tracked side effects closely and acted fast when problems appeared.

Two eyes had uveitis, inflammation inside the eye’s tissues, and the gel turned cloudy until doctors used steroid drops and shots.

Two patients briefly lost vision after an injection, and doctors reversed it with paracentesis, a small needle release of excess fluid.

Those events resolved, but the study remained small, and larger trials will need to watch for rarer harms.

Who this could help

Doctors targeted people whose eyes still had usable vision, because a collapsed eye cannot reveal sight that is gone.

A national estimate puts new cases near 100 a year in the United Kingdom, so recruiting remains hard.

The team looked for low pressure lasting more than 3 months, plus a clear cornea and a clear path for light.

If disease has already destroyed the optic nerve, adding volume will not help, even if the eye regains shape.

More eye pressure gel testing

The next challenge is proving the approach works beyond a small pilot, and finding a schedule people can live with.

Researchers plan to compare gels and track how long each keeps the eye firm without frequent top-ups.

Because HPMC already sits in operating rooms, clinics could adopt the method faster if trials confirm lasting results.

Until that happens, specialists will need to judge each case carefully, and patients will still face repeat injections.

The gel worked by replacing lost volume and pressure, letting some eyes return to a shape that supports focus.

Larger trials must confirm safety and durability, but the idea already turns a once-stalled problem into something doctors can adjust.

according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.