Table of Contents
New eye drops might help people see more clearly.
Some people have a problem called longsightedness. It is hard for people to see things close up, like a book. So, many people use glasses to read. Some people have surgery to fix the problem. But a new eye drop could help.
A study in Argentina showed good results. Many people used the drops and could read better after using them.
The drops have two kinds of medicine. One medicine is called pilocarpine. It makes the eye’s black part smaller. This helps the eye focus. The other medicine is called diclofenac. It helps stop swelling.
The drops work fast. Just one hour after using them, people can read many more lines on an eye chart. The study had 766 people. They used the drops two times a day.
But, some people had problems. Their eyes were a little blurry, they had headaches, or the drops hurt their eyes a little. Doctors want to do more studies to make sure the drops are safe.
Vocabulary
- Eye drop – A small amount of liquid medicine that you put into your eye; 💧
- Clearly – To see something well, so it is not blurry
- Longsightedness – An eye problem that makes it hard to see things that are near to you
- Close up – When something is very near to you
- Surgery – a medical operation/action/procedure to repair or remove part of the body
- Study – the activity of examining/studying something in detail to discover new information; research; investigation
- Show – to prove something or make the truth or existence of something known; confirm; demonstrate; to display; to represent; to make known
- Result – outcome; findings; conclusion; answer; What happened at the end of a study or test
- Kind – type; variety
- Part – a piece of something; a section of a whole thing; not the whole thing
- Focus – To make something look clear to your eyes; to look at something with clear vision
- Swelling – When a part of your body becomes bigger/fatter because of injury or sickness
- Line – A row of words or letters
- Eye chart – A paper with rows of letters used by doctors to test your vision
- Blurry – When something is not clear and hard to see
- Headache – A pain in your head
- Make sure – To ensure or double-check that something is done correctly or as planned
Discussion Questions
- Do you think using eye drops is better than wearing glasses? Why or why not?
- Do you or people you know use reading glasses? What do you think about wearing them?
- Why do you think it is important for doctors to do more studies on this new treatment?
- The story talks about side effects like headaches. Would you still use the eye drops if you had a headache?
- If a new medicine helps you see better, is it okay if it hurts a little?
- The study had a lot of people. Do you think that means the eye drops are very safe? Why?
- Would you like to try new medicine to fix a problem? Why or why not?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
New _____ drops might help people see more _____ .
Some people have a problem _____ longsightedness. It is hard for people to see things close _____ , like a book. So, many people use _____ to read. Some people have surgery to fix the problem. But a _____ eye drop could help.
A _____ in Argentina showed good results. Many people _____ the drops and could read better after using _____ .
The drops have two kinds of _____ . One medicine is called pilocarpine. It makes the _____ black part smaller. This helps the eye _____ . The other medicine is called diclofenac. It helps _____ swelling.
The drops work fast. Just one _____ after using them, people can read many more lines on _____ eye chart. The study had _____ people. They used the drops two times a _____ .
But, some people had _____ . Their eyes were a little blurry, they had headaches, or the _____ hurt their eyes a little. Doctors want to _____ more studies to make sure the drops are safe.
