Better humour

A watery gel could improve the success rate of eye operations. Scientists
from the Mendeleev University of Chemistry and Technology in Moscow made a
“hydrogel” of 98 per cent water and a little plastic to replace the vitreous
humour, the clear fluid between the eye’s lens and retina. That fluid needs to
be replaced in operations to repair a retina detached as a result of a hard
knock to the eye or diabetes, for example. At present, surgeons use either a gas
or a silicone oil as a temporary replacement. But the opaque gas leaves patients
blind for six weeks,…