Breakthrough Eye Treatment Restores Vision in Hypotony Patients

Quoting Consultant Ophthalmologist, Harry Petrushkin or Moorfields Eye Hospital ; “before this treatment people were going blind. It is incredible to know that people are regaining vision”. 

Hypotony is low intraocular pressure and when it is too low it can cause distortions of the retina, lens and cornea that reduce vision.  It can be caused by trauma and eye surgery or certain medications.  On occasion treatment for glaucoma with trabeculectomy is associated with this condition.  Post surgical wounds leak, chronic inflammation of the eye, retinal detachment, detachment of the choroid (the layer of eye between the retina and sclera)  and shallowing of the interior chamber (the front inner part of the eye), can also lead to this issue.

It can be caused by trauma or underlying eye conditions that damage part of the eye that produces the fluid that maintains normal eye pressure.

Traditionally, treatment has been with silicone oil, but with limited success.  Silicone can be toxic to the eye over long periods and is not easy to see through causing blurry vision.  Instead, a decision was made to fill the eye with something you can see through.

In a paper published on the 12th January 2026, by Moorfields Eye Hospital, in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, ocular injections containing HPMC (Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose) have been successfully used to increase the volume of the eye enhancing size and pressure.

Data shows that 7 out of 8 patients within the study regained vision, eye pressure and length restoration after 12 months.

The injection of clear gel is made into the main part of the eye as a new type of therapy.  It is a low cost, transparent, water-based gel. The treatment is given once every 3-4 weeks for around 10 months.   Candidates must have viable cells at the back of the eye that allow vision.

Your vision is a crucial sense that is responsible for most of the information we absorb from our combined senses.

This pioneering treatment allows the eye and brain to work together and restore sight.