A groundbreaking eye injection has transformed the life of Nicki Guy, 47, who was the first patient to receive this innovative treatment. The procedure, performed at Moorfields Hospital in London, has restored her sight and prevented blindness, offering hope to those affected by a rare eye condition called hypotony.
Hypotony occurs when the pressure inside the eyeball drops dangerously low, causing it to cave in. This can result from poor production of the natural jelly-like fluid inside the eye, trauma, or inflammation. In some cases, it's a side effect of eye surgery or medications. Without treatment, blindness can occur.
Nicki's story is remarkable. After her son was born in 2017, her right eye began to fail, losing its normal shape and 'collapsing' due to hypotony. Silicone oil was initially used to treat her, but it provided little improvement. A few years later, her left eye started to show similar symptoms.
Determined to find a solution, Nicki and her eye doctor, Mr. Harry Petrushkin, decided to try a novel approach. They filled the eye with a transparent, water-based gel called hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPCM), which is already used in some eye surgeries. This gel, injected into the main part of the eye, proved to be a game-changer.
Nicki's vision improved significantly, allowing her to see and read most lines on an eye test chart. Her sight is now one line below the legal driving standard, a vast improvement from her previous partial sight. She can now navigate her home and surroundings with ease and enjoy the sight of her child growing up.
Mr. Petrushkin emphasizes the potential impact of this treatment. With viable cells at the back of the eye, the same procedure could help hundreds or even thousands of people in the UK each year. The team has treated 35 patients and published the outcomes of the first eight in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, showing promising results.
The treatment involves multiple injections over 10 months, given every three to four weeks. Researchers aim to refine their ability to predict who will benefit from this treatment over time, making it a promising development in eye care.
