A revolutionary gel injection has successfully restored the eyesight of a London woman, marking a significant breakthrough in treating a debilitating eye condition.
From Darkness to Light: A Mother's Journey
Nicki Guy, a 47-year-old communications officer, had her world dimmed by hypotony, a rare condition causing critically low pressure inside the eye. The collapse of her eye's structure, which she describes as "crumpling like a paper bag," forced her to surrender her driving licence in 2021 and threatened her independence.
Nicki's eye problems began shortly after the birth of her son, with a diagnosis of chronic anterior uveitis. While initially symptom-free, complications arose in 2017, leading to the development of cataracts and the devastating hypotony that stole her sight.
The Pioneering 'Pump-Up' Procedure
As the first patient in a groundbreaking project at London's world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital, Nicki received a series of innovative injections. Specialists used a clear, low-cost gel called hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) to essentially "pump-up" her eye and restore its shape and pressure.
This gel is commonly used in surgery to protect the eye during operations but had not been used as a long-term treatment for hypotony. The traditional treatment, silicone oil injections, can cause toxicity. Nicki was one of eight patients to receive HPMC injections every two weeks for a year, starting in May 2019.
A 'Phenomenal' Return to Life
The results have been transformative. "There's none of that murkiness, the pressure is there," Nicki said. Her consultant ophthalmologist, Harry Petrushkin, noted that before treatment, she could barely see a hand waving in front of her eye.
Now, Nicki is on the cusp of regaining her driving licence and has already returned to cherished activities like photography and taking her son skiing. "I'm so close to being able to drive again... that's phenomenal success," she stated.
While she has permanently lost sight in her right eye due to a separate retinal detachment in 2023, the treatment in that eye was also successful beforehand. Her experience has even redirected her career towards working for the sight loss charity, the Thomas Pocklington Trust.
The treatment has now been rolled out to other patients at the clinic with considerable success, offering new hope for those with this challenging condition. Nicki expressed enormous gratitude to the medical team, reflecting on how her frightening journey is now helping others see a brighter future.
