New goggles help partially sighted nine-year-old boy to watch TV
A partially sighted nine-year-old boy who suffers from macular degeneration has been able to watch a film on television without having to sit directly in front of the screen for the first time, thanks to a device known as Give Vision. The goggles consist of a smartphone attached to a headpiece, which capture images and project them into the sight line of the wearer. Investment has come from the NHS and Roman Abramovich, Chelsea football club's owner. It is hoped the goggles will be available on the NHS by 2025.

Charlie Mason, who suffers from macular degeneration, used the revolutionary GiveVision device and was so stunned he simply said: "It works"

Partially sighted boy fulfils dream to watch Star Wars with his family thanks to amazing new goggles

A young boy has watched Star Wars from the sofa for the first time, using goggles that enhance vision in the partially sighed.

Charlie Mason, nine, who has an inherited form of macular degeneration, was so stunned, all he could say was: “It works.”

His first wish was to watch Star Wars with his family on the couch, rather than having to sit directly in front of the TV.

The GiveVision device features a smartphone attached to a headset. It captures images with a camera and projects them into the person’s sight line.

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Users can adjust the images with a remote control. Charlie, of Knaresborough, North Yorks, is trialling the prototype. His condition causes blind spots to appear in the line of sight, making reading difficult, colours appear less vibrant and faces hard to recognise.

Charlie’s mum, Helen, 41, said of the goggles: “It was overwhelming. He was flabbergasted. He just could not believe that he was able to see things that he had not been able to see before.”

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The NHS and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich invested in the device. Inventors hope the goggles will available on the NHS by 2025.

Michael Crossland, of Moorfields Eye Hospital, in London, said: “This could be used by people not helped by glasses.