The Reading / Listening - Eye Drops - Level 6

Help is at hand for people whose vision is worsening. An American pharmaceutical company called Allergan has developed eye drops that can treat an eye condition called presbyopia. This is when people's close-up vision starts getting blurred. It usually starts when people get into their 40s. It affects over a billion people around the globe. About 16 per cent of these cannot afford eyeglasses or access to eye surgery. The new eye drops are called Vuity. Allergan called them "an innovative new prescription eye drop". It said Vuity is "the first and only FDA-approved eye drop to treat age-related Blurry Near Vision (presbyopia) in adults". It added they "may help patients with presbyopia see up close".

Presbyopia means it is difficult to see things clearly up close. Sufferers need glasses or have to make the text on phone and computer screens bigger. On its website, Allergan stated that its eye drops could help people see three lines on an eye chart that would normally be blurred. It wrote: "In clinical studies where patients received one drop of Vuity in each eye once daily, this was measured by the proportion of patients achieving a 3-line gain or more reading a near-vision eye chart." The drops work by reducing the eye's pupil size. This helps people to focus on text and objects that are near them. A user who tested the eye drops said they helped him see smaller letters in focus.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Eye Drops - Level 4  or  Eye Drops - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.sciencealert.com/new-eye-drops-can-help-us-continue-to-see-well-as-our-wear-with-age
  • https://www.healio.com/news/ophthalmology/20220427/certain-patients-may-be-better-suited-for-presbyopia-drops
  • https://www.vuity.com/introducing-vuity


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. EYESIGHT: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about eyesight. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       help / vision / pharmaceutical / eye drops / close-up / globe / surgery / prescription /
       glasses / text / eye chart / studies / blurred / patients / pupil / focus on text
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. SCREEN TIME: Students A strongly believe we need to halve our screen time; Students B strongly believe this isn't necessary. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. EYE CARE: How good are these things for your eyes? To what extent do you use them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Good

Your Use

Sleep

 

 

Eye drops

 

 

A good diet

 

 

Carrots

 

 

Sunglasses

 

 

Eye tests

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. FOCUS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "focus". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. BAD FOR THE EYES: Rank these with your partner. Put the worst things for the eyes at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Reading in poor light
  • Digital screens
  • Sun
  • Pollution
  • Ageing
  • Contact lenses
  • Dust
  • Smoking

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. at hand a. Relating to medicinal drugs, or their preparation, use, or sale.
      2. pharmaceutical b. Unable to see or be seen clearly.
      3. treat c. Close by.
      4. blurred d. A medicine or remedy that is given or recommended by doctors.
      5. innovative e. Of a product, idea, etc. featuring new methods; advanced and original.
      6. prescription f. Officially agreed to or accepted as satisfactory.
      7. approved g. Give medical care or attention to; try to heal or cure.

    Paragraph 2

      8. sufferer h. A sheet of information in the form of a table, graph, or diagram.
      9. stated i. A part, share, or number considered in comparative relation to a whole.
      10. clinical j. A thing that is achieved or acquired.
      11. proportion k. A person who is affected by an illness.
      12. gain l. Clearly expressed or identified.
      13. pupil m. The dark circular opening in the centre of the eye.
      14. chart n. Relating to the observation and treatment of actual patients rather than theories.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. An American company called Allergen developed some eye drops.     T / F
  2. People usually start getting blurred vision in their 50s.     T / F
  3. Around 16% of people with blurred vision cannot afford glasses.     T / F
  4. The eye drops are the first to get approval from the FDA.     T / F
  5. People with presbyopia have trouble seeing things far away.     T / F
  6. The eye drops help people to see all the lines on an eye chart.     T / F
  7. Making the pupil smaller helps people to see things in the distance.     T / F
  8. Someone who used the drops could see smaller text better.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. at hand
  2. treat
  3. blurred
  4. innovative
  5. clearly
  6. normally
  7. reducing
  8. proportion
  9. focus
  10. letters
  1. narrowing
  2. distinctly
  3. ordinarily
  4. cure
  5. characters
  6. original
  7. centre
  8. near
  9. fraction
  10. vague

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. Help is
  2. drops that can treat an eye condition
  3. people's close-up vision starts
  4. these cannot afford
  5. treat age-
  6. Sufferers
  7. see three lines
  8. clinical
  9. The drops work by
  10. This helps people to
  1. focus on text
  2. related Blurry Near Vision
  3. need glasses
  4. on an eye chart
  5. called presbyopia
  6. reducing the eye's pupil size
  7. getting blurred
  8. eyeglasses
  9. studies
  10. at hand

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
blurred
innovative
affects
close
hand
related
treat
access

Help is at (1) _____________________ for people whose vision is worsening. An American pharmaceutical company called Allergan has developed eye drops that can (2) _____________________ an eye condition called presbyopia. This is when people's close-up vision starts getting (3) _____________________. It usually starts when people get into their 40s. It (4) _____________________ over a billion people around the globe. About 16 per cent of these cannot afford eyeglasses or (5) _____________________ to eye surgery. The new eye drops are called Vuity. Allergan called them "an (6) _____________________ new prescription eye drop". It said Vuity is "the first and only FDA-approved eye drop to treat age- (7) _____________________ Blurry Near Vision (presbyopia) in adults". It added they "may help patients with presbyopia see up (8) _____________________".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
normally
measured
glasses
pupil
clinical
focus
clearly
vision

Presbyopia means it is difficult to see things (9) ____________________ up close. Sufferers need (10) _____________________ or have to make the text on phone and computer screens bigger. On its website, Allergan stated that its eye drops could help people see three lines on an eye chart that would (11) _____________________ be blurred. It wrote: "In (12) _____________________ studies where patients received one drop of Vuity in each eye once daily, this was (13) _____________________ by the proportion of patients achieving a 3-line gain or more reading a near-(14) _____________________ eye chart." The drops work by reducing the eye's (15) _____________________ size. This helps people to focus on text and objects that are near them. A user who tested the eye drops said they helped him see smaller letters in (16) _____________________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Help is at hand for people whose ______
     a.  vision is worsen in
     b.  vision is worse sinning
     c.  vision is worse in
     d.  vision is worsening
2)  called Allergan has developed eye drops that can ______ condition
     a.  threat an eye
     b.  teat an eye
     c.  treat an eye
     d.  trait an eye
3)  This is when people's close-up vision ______
     a.  starts getting burred
     b.  starts get in blurred
     c.  starts getting blur red
     d.  starts getting blurred
4)  About 16 per cent of these cannot afford eyeglasses or ______ surgery
     a.  access to eye
     b.  excess to eye
     c.  axe says to eye
     d.  assess to eye
5)  It added they "may help patients with presbyopia ______
     a.  see up closed
     b.  see up close
     c.  see up closes
     d.  see up closet

6)  Sufferers need glasses or have to make the text on phone and ______
     a.  computer screen bigger
     b.  computer screens bigger
     c.  computer screams bigger
     d.  computer sheens bigger
7)  Allergan stated that its eye drops could help people see three lines on ______
     a.  an eye chat
     b.  an eye charts
     c.  an eye shard
     d.  an eye chart
8)  patients received one drop of Vuity in each ______
     a.  eye once day lily
     b.  eye ones daily
     c.  eye ones dally
     d.  eye once daily
9)  The drops work by reducing the ______
     a.  eye's pupil sized
     b.  eye's pupil size
     c.  eye's pupil sizes
     d.  eye's pupil size
10)  A user who tested the eye drops said they helped him see smaller ______
     a.  letter sin focus
     b.  let us in focus
     c.  let tease focus
     d.  letters in focus

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Help is (1) ____________________ people whose vision is worsening. An American pharmaceutical company called Allergan has developed eye drops that (2) ____________________ eye condition called presbyopia. This is when people's close-up vision (3) ____________________. It usually starts when people get into their 40s. It affects over a billion people around the globe. About 16 per cent of (4) ____________________ eyeglasses or access to eye surgery. The new eye drops are called Vuity. Allergan called them "(5) ____________________ prescription eye drop". It said Vuity is "the first and only FDA-approved eye drop to treat age-related Blurry Near Vision (presbyopia) in adults". It added they "(6) ____________________ with presbyopia see up close".

Presbyopia means it is difficult to see things (7) ____________________. Sufferers need glasses or have to make the text on phone and computer screens bigger. On its website, Allergan stated that its eye drops could help people see (8) ____________________ an eye chart that would normally be blurred. It wrote: "In clinical studies where patients received one drop of Vuity in each (9) ____________________, this was measured by the proportion of patients achieving a 3-line gain or more reading a near-vision eye chart." The drops work by reducing the (10) ____________________. This helps people to (11) ____________________ and objects that are near them. A user who tested the eye drops said they helped him see smaller (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say is at hand?
  2. What is the name of the eye condition?
  3. When do people usually start getting the condition?
  4. What percentage of people with the condition cannot afford glasses?
  5. Who has given the eye drops a green light?
  6. What do sufferers of the condition have to make bigger?
  7. What kind of studies were mentioned in the article?
  8. How many previously blurred lines could the drops help people see?
  9. What do the eye drops reduce the size of?
  10. What could a user of the drops see better?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the article say is at hand?
a) eyesight
b) fingers
c) help
d) a palm
2) What is the name of the eye condition?
a) presbyopia
b) Presbyterian
c) onomatopoeia
d) perspicacious
3) When do people usually start getting the condition?
a) in old age
b) after lunch
c) after too much screen time
d) in their 40s
4) What percentage of people with the condition cannot afford glasses?
a) 3%
b) 16%
c) 40%
d) 12%
5) Who has given the eye drops a green light?
a) a light company
b) a traffic authority
c) the FDA
d) the WHO

6) What do sufferers of the condition have to make bigger?
a) their eyes
b) text on small screens
c) the drops
d) a magnifying glass
7) What kind of studies were mentioned in the article?
a) exploratory studies
b) longitudinal studies
c) latitudinal studies
d) clinical studies
8) How many previously blurred lines could the drops help people see?
a) five
b) three
c) eight
d) one
9) What do the eye drops reduce the size of?
a) the eye's pupil
b) the eye
c) the iris
d) the lens on the eye
10) What could a user of the drops see better?
a) colour
b) his face
c) the horizon
d) smaller letters

Role play

Role  A – Reading in Poor Light
You think reading in poor light is the worst thing for our eyes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): too much screen time, sunlight or ageing.

Role  B – Too Much Screen Time
You think too much screen time is the worst thing for our eyes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): reading in poor light, sunlight or ageing.

Role  C – Sunlight
You think sunlight is the worst thing for our eyes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): too much screen time, reading in poor light or ageing.

Role  D – Ageing
You think ageing is the worst thing for our eyes. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): too much screen time, sunlight or reading in poor light.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'eye'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'drops'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • hand
    • pharmaceutical
    • starts
    • 16
    • innovative
    • may
    • means
    • text
    • lines
    • daily
    • pupil
    • tested

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Eye Drops

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'eye'?
    3. What's your eyesight like?
    4. How important is perfect vision?
    5. What do you think of the new eye drops?
    6. What can we do to look after our eyes?
    7. How much do you worry about your eyesight?
    8. Do you spend too much time looking at screens?
    9. Would you prefer to wear glasses or contact lenses?
    10. Would you have surgery to improve your eyesight?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'vision'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Is reading bad for our eyes?
    5. What do you do that is bad for your eyes?
    6. What do you know about how vision works?
    7. Will technology mean everyone will have perfect eyesight?
    8. Have you ever had any problems with your eyes?
    9. How do you do when you take an eye test?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the eye-drops company?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Help is at hand for people whose vision is (1) ____. An American pharmaceutical company called Allergan has developed eye drops that can (2) ____ an eye condition called presbyopia. This is when people's close-up vision starts getting (3) ____. It usually starts when people get into their 40s. It affects over a billion people around the globe. About 16 per cent of these cannot (4) ____ eyeglasses or access to eye surgery. The new eye drops are called Vuity. Allergan called them "an (5) ____ new prescription eye drop". It said Vuity is "the first and only FDA-approved eye drop to treat age-related Blurry Near Vision (presbyopia) (6) ____ adults". It added they "may help patients with presbyopia see up close".

    Presbyopia means it is difficult to see things (7) ____ up close. Sufferers need glasses or have to make the text on phone and computer screens bigger. On its website, Allergan (8) ____ that its eye drops could help people see three lines on an eye chart that would normally be blurred. It wrote: "In (9) ____ studies where patients received one drop of Vuity in each eye once daily, this was measured by the proportion (10) ____ patients achieving a 3-line gain or more reading a near-vision eye chart." The drops work (11) ____ reducing the eye's pupil size. This helps people to focus on text and objects that are near them. A user who tested the eye drops said they helped him see smaller letters (12) ____ focus.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     worse     (b)     worsen     (c)     worsening     (d)     worsens    
    2. (a)     treat     (b)     threat     (c)     threaten     (d)     treatise    
    3. (a)     blurred     (b)     burred     (c)     burned     (d)     blamed    
    4. (a)     afford     (b)     dig     (c)     vision     (d)     foresee    
    5. (a)     outrageous     (b)     innovative     (c)     overt     (d)     opaque    
    6. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    7. (a)     clarity     (b)     clearness     (c)     clearly     (d)     clear    
    8. (a)     stared     (b)     starred     (c)     strutted     (d)     stated    
    9. (a)     clinical     (b)     cline     (c)     cleanse     (d)     cleaning    
    10. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    11. (a)     of     (b)     by     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    12. (a)     of     (b)     at     (c)     in     (d)     by

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. An American phrcileamtaauc company
    2. vision starts getting dlerrub
    3. access to eye usgryre
    4. an nioavntvei new prescription eye drop
    5. the first and only FDA-ppdveaor eye drop
    6. they may help patetsin

    Paragraph 2

    1. eesfrrusf need glasses
    2. In iclinalc studies
    3. measured by the nrtopoirop
    4. vgihaecni a 3-line gain
    5. a near-isvion eye chart
    6. reducing the eye's luipp size

    Put the text back together

    (...)  to eye surgery. The new eye drops are called Vuity. Allergan called them "an innovative new
    (...)  company called Allergan has developed eye drops that can treat an eye condition called presbyopia. This is when
    (...)  people's close-up vision starts getting blurred. It usually starts when people get into their 40s. It affects
    1  ) Help is at hand for people whose vision is worsening. An American pharmaceutical
    (...)  Presbyopia means it is difficult to see things clearly up close. Sufferers need glasses or have to make the text
    (...)  of Vuity in each eye once daily, this was measured by the proportion of patients achieving a 3-line gain or more
    (...)  who tested the eye drops said they helped him see smaller letters in focus.
    (...)  on phone and computer screens bigger. On its website, Allergan stated that its eye drops could help people see three
    (...)  over a billion people around the globe. About 16 per cent of these cannot afford eyeglasses or access
    (...)  prescription eye drop". It said Vuity is "the first and only FDA-approved eye drop to treat age-
    (...)  lines on an eye chart that would normally be blurred. It wrote: "In clinical studies where patients received one drop
    (...)  related Blurry Near Vision (presbyopia) in adults". It added they "may help patients with presbyopia see up close".
    (...)  size. This helps people to focus on text and objects that are near them. A user
    (...)  reading a near-vision eye chart." The drops work by reducing the eye's pupil

    Put the words in the right order

    1. vision   .   is   with   for   people   near   worsening   Help
    2. drops   that   condition   .   can   Eye   an   treat   eye
    3. blurred   .   vision   people's   when   close-up   It's   getting   starts
    4. 40s   .   starts   into   people   get   when   their   It
    5. It   helps   presbyopia   up   close   .   see   with   patients
    6. means   clearly   .   to   things   Presbyopia   see   it's   difficult
    7. bigger   .   and   on   text   phone   Make   screens   computer
    8. blurred   .   eye   normally   that   would   chart   be   An
    9. work   size   .   reducing   drops   pupil   The   by   the
    10. helped   focus   .   smaller   in   They   letters   him   see

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Help is at head / hand for people whose vision is worsening / worsen. An American pharmaceutical company called Allergan has developed eye drops that can treat / threat an eye condition called presbyopia. This is when people's close-up vision starts getting burred / blurred. It usually starts when people get into their 40s. It effects / affects over a billion people around the global / globe. About 16 per cent of these cannot affront / afford eyeglasses or access to eye surgery. The new eye drops are called Vuity. Allergan called them "an innovative new description / prescription eye drop". It said Vuity is "the first and only FDA-approved eye drop to treat age-related Blurry Near Vision (presbyopia) in / on adults". It added they "may help patients with presbyopia see up / down close".

    Presbyopia means it is difficult / difficulty to see things clearly up close. Sufferers need glasses or have to make the text in / on phone and computer screens bigger. On its website, Allergan stated / started that its eye drops could help people see three lines on an eye chart that would normally / normality be blurred. It wrote: "In / On clinical studies where patients received one drop of Vuity in each / every eye once daily, this was measured by / of the proportion of patients achieving a 3-line grain / gain or more reading a near-vision eye chart." The drops work by reducing the eye's pulp / pupil size. This helps people to focus on text and objects that are near them. A user who tested the eye drops said they helped him see smaller letters in / on focus.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    H_lp  _s  _t  h_nd  f_r  p__pl_  wh_s_  v_s__n  _s  w_rs_n_ng.  _n  _m_r_c_n  ph_rm_c__t_c_l  c_mp_ny  c_ll_d  _ll_rg_n  h_s  d_v_l_p_d  _y_  dr_ps  th_t  c_n  tr__t  _n  _y_  c_nd_t__n  c_ll_d  pr_sby_p__.  Th_s  _s  wh_n  p__pl_'s  cl_s_-_p  v_s__n  st_rts  g_tt_ng  bl_rr_d.  _t  _s__lly  st_rts  wh_n  p__pl_  g_t  _nt_  th__r  40s.  _t  _ff_cts  _v_r  _  b_ll__n  p__pl_  _r__nd  th_  gl_b_.  _b__t  16  p_r  c_nt  _f  th_s_  c_nn_t  _ff_rd  _y_gl_ss_s  _r  _cc_ss  t_  _y_  s_rg_ry.  Th_  n_w  _y_  dr_ps  _r_  c_ll_d  V__ty.  _ll_rg_n  c_ll_d  th_m  "_n  _nn_v_t_v_  n_w  pr_scr_pt__n  _y_  dr_p".  _t  s__d  V__ty  _s  "th_  f_rst  _nd  _nly  FD_-_ppr_v_d  _y_  dr_p  t_  tr__t  _g_-r_l_t_d  Bl_rry  N__r  V_s__n  (pr_sby_p__)  _n  _d_lts".  _t  _dd_d  th_y  "m_y  h_lp  p_t__nts  w_th  pr_sby_p__  s__  _p  cl_s_".

    Pr_sby_p__  m__ns  _t  _s  d_ff_c_lt  t_  s__  th_ngs  cl__rly  _p  cl_s_.  S_ff_r_rs  n__d  gl_ss_s  _r  h_v_  t_  m_k_  th_  t_xt  _n  ph_n_  _nd  c_mp_t_r  scr__ns  b_gg_r.  _n  _ts  w_bs_t_,  _ll_rg_n  st_t_d  th_t  _ts  _y_  dr_ps  c__ld  h_lp  p__pl_  s__  thr__  l_n_s  _n  _n  _y_  ch_rt  th_t  w__ld  n_rm_lly  b_  bl_rr_d.  _t  wr_t_:  "_n  cl_n_c_l  st_d__s  wh_r_  p_t__nts  r_c__v_d  _n_  dr_p  _f  V__ty  _n  __ch  _y_  _nc_  d__ly,  th_s  w_s  m__s_r_d  by  th_  pr_p_rt__n  _f  p_t__nts  _ch__v_ng  _  3-l_n_  g__n  _r  m_r_  r__d_ng  _  n__r-v_s__n  _y_  ch_rt."  Th_  dr_ps  w_rk  by  r_d_c_ng  th_  _y_'s  p_p_l  s_z_.  Th_s  h_lps  p__pl_  t_  f_c_s  _n  t_xt  _nd  _bj_cts  th_t  _r_  n__r  th_m.  _  _s_r  wh_  t_st_d  th_  _y_  dr_ps  s__d  th_y  h_lp_d  h_m  s__  sm_ll_r  l_tt_rs  _n  f_c_s.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    help is at hand for people whose vision is worsening an american pharmaceutical company called allergan has developed eye drops that can treat an eye condition called presbyopia this is when peoples closeup vision starts getting blurred it usually starts when people get into their 40s it affects over a billion people around the globe about 16 per cent of these cannot afford eyeglasses or access to eye surgery the new eye drops are called vuity allergan called them an innovative new prescription eye drop it said vuity is the first and only fda approved eye drop to treat age related blurry near vision presbyopia in adults it added they may help patients with presbyopia see up close

    presbyopia means it is difficult to see things clearly up close sufferers need glasses or have to make the text on phone and computer screens bigger on its website allergan stated that its eye drops could help people see three lines on an eye chart that would normally be blurred it wrote in clinical studies where patients received one drop of vuity in each eye once daily this was measured by the proportion of patients achieving a 3line gain or more reading a nearvision eye chart the drops work by reducing the eyes pupil size this helps people to focus on text and objects that are near them a user who tested the eye drops said they helped him see smaller letters in focus

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Helpisathandforpeoplewhosevisionisworsening.AnAmericanpharm
    aceuticalcompanycalledAllerganhasdevelopedeyedropsthatcantrea
    taneyeconditioncalledpresbyopia.Thisiswhenpeople'sclose-upvisio
    nstartsgettingblurred.Itusuallystartswhenpeoplegetintotheir40s.It
    affectsoverabillionpeoplearoundtheglobe.About16percentofthesec
    annotaffordeyeglassesoraccesstoeyesurgery.Theneweyedropsarec
    alledVuity.Allergancalledthem"aninnovativenewprescriptioneyedro
    p".ItsaidVuityis"thefirstandonlyFDA-approvedeyedroptotreatage-
    relatedBlurryNearVision(presbyopia)inadults".Itaddedthey"mayhel
    ppatientswithpresbyopiaseeupclose".Presbyopiameansitisdifficultt
    oseethingsclearlyupclose.Sufferersneedglassesorhavetomakethete
    xtonphoneandcomputerscreensbigger.Onitswebsite,Allerganstated
    thatitseyedropscouldhelppeopleseethreelinesonaneyechartthatwo
    uldnormallybeblurred.Itwrote:"Inclinicalstudieswherepatientsrecei
    vedonedropofVuityineacheyeoncedaily,thiswasmeasuredbythepro
    portionofpatientsachievinga3-linegainormorereadinganear-visione
    yechart."Thedropsworkbyreducingtheeye'spupilsize.Thishelpspeop
    letofocusontextandobjectsthatarenearthem.Auserwhotestedtheey
    edropssaidtheyhelpedhimseesmallerlettersinfocus.

    Free writing

    Write about eye drops for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    There should be a limit on how long we look at screens. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. EYESIGHT: Make a poster about eyesight. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SCREEN TIME: Write a magazine article about drastically reducing screen time. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on eyesight. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can better look after our eyes. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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