A man in Britain can see again because of a new bionic eye. Ray Flynn, 80, became the first patient in the world to get the new device, which is an artificial retina. Mr Flynn suffers from a condition called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is one of the most common problems with eyesight around the world. Flynn started losing his sight ten years ago. Doctors told him eight years ago that he had AMD. From that time, his sight became worse and worse. It became so bad that he could only see things out of the corners of his eyes. Everything in the centre of his eyes was blurred and he could not see shapes properly. He said that even looking at simple things made him very tired.

Mr Flynn's bionic eye cost $125,000. Britain's national health service hopes the cost of the operation will come down. This means many more people will be able to have the operation for free. Flynn had the surgery last month. Doctors spent four hours putting a microchip in the back of his eye. Doctors are very happy with the operation, which they said was a success. Flynn can now read a newspaper and admire the flowers in his garden for the first time in many years. His doctor, professor Paulo Stanga, said: "Mr Flynn's progress is truly remarkable. He is seeing the outline of people and objects very effectively." Professor Stanga hopes scientists can also help people who have been blind from birth.

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.The man who received the bionic eye was more than 70 years old.T / F

b.The bionic eye was an artificial retina.T / F

c.The man found out he had a problem called AMD last year.T / F

d.The problem meant he could only see out of the corners of his eyes.T / F

e.The eye cost $125,000.T / F

f.Britain's health service said the operation will never come down in price.T / F

g.The operation took 14 hours.T / F

h.A doctor said the operation could not help people who were born blind.T / F

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.How old is Ray Flynn?

2.What part of the eye does the device replace?

3.When did Mr Flynn start losing his sight?

4.What could he not see properly?

5.How did he feel when he looked at simple things?

6.How much did the bionic eye cost?

7.When did Mr Flynn have the operation?

8.What can Mr Flynn now admire?

9.What is Paolo Stanga's job?

10.Who does Mr Stanga hope scientists can help?

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

aTbTcFdTeTfFgFhF

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.devicea.gadget

2artificialb.man-made

3.conditionc.illness

4.centred.middle

5.blurrede.out of focus

6.costf.price

7.for freeg.at no cost

8.surgeryh.operation

9.trulyi.really

10.objectsj.things

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.80

2.The retina

3.10 years ago

4.Shapes

5.Tired

6.$125,000

7.Last month

8.Flowers

9.A doctor (and professor)

10.People blind from birth