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A new device is helping those who are blind to see. Jason Esterhuizen lost his eyesight after a car accident. He never thought he would be able to see light or movement again. But now with the movement of a switch, his world suddenly grew brighter.

He says, “I still can’t put it into words. I mean from being able to see absolutely nothing, it’s completely black, to all of a sudden seeing a little light move around.“ It is not full or normal sight, but Esterhuizen can move about in the world around him.

Dr Nader Pouratian says, “ Being able to tell where a doorway is, being able to tell where the sidewalk begins or ends or where the crosswalk is, are all extremely meaningful events that can help these people regain some form of independence.”

The new technology-called Orion-uses several parts. One is a small device placed in the brain. The other parts are a video camera on sunglasses and a processing device that can be carried in a person’s clothes. When the user points the camera, a signal goes to the processor (处理器)and then back to the glasses. The glasses then communicate wirelessly with the device in the brain. The information causes a pattern to develop in the part of the brain. The pattern helps users detect (识别 ) movement and shapes of light. And it all happens in seconds.

Pouratian says this technology is a first. “We basically have the video camera and the video processing unit performing the functions of what the eye normally does, ” he adds.

Esterhuizen says that now he can do everyday activities around his home that he once could not. “Crossing the road is much easier and much safer for me because I can look down and just follow the white line that’s painted on the road.”

The researchers believe that one day this technology could help people who have lost their vision because of illnesses like glaucoma(青光眼)or diabetes. It may also help those with poor vision or who were born blind.