Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical procedure wherein the anterior or posterior chamber of the eye is filled with viscoelastic space-filling and ocular tissue protective surgical material, the improvement comprising the utilization therein of a composition particularly adapted for use as an ophthalmic viscoelastic surgical material in the anterior or posterior chamber of the eye consisting of an aqueous solution containing from about 1.5% to about 25%, by weight, of a physiologically acceptable, water-soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer or polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymer, having a molecular weight greater than 500,000, said aqueous solution having a viscosity greater than about 5,000 centipoises, measured at 25.degree. C. using a Brookfield viscometer.