Six blind patients have had their sight partially restored by a "bionic eye" surgically implanted on to their retina. Although it restores only very rudimentary vision, the device has proved so successful that its developers are about to begin a study of a more sophisticated version with between 50 and 75 patients.
Britain has got better for many disabled people over the past decade and it is easy to forget that, until recently, there was no such thing as "disability rights". Yet we still need a new agenda because, in some cases, things have got worse. And without action now, the challenges of the coming years will create new patterns of inequality and disadvantage that Britain can ill afford.
'Miracle' that daughter, 4, survived horrific violence
Clare Allan complains that the "logic" of no-smoking policies in mental-health settings escapes her (The unfair smoking ban will mean fuming on the wards, February 7). We'd like to help. Second-hand smoke is dangerous.
Cell transplants have successfully restored vision to mice which had lost their sight, leading to hopes people could benefit in the same way. UK scientists treated animals which had eye damage similar to that seen in many human eye diseases.
Deaf people could soon be using video mobiles to chat with their friends using sign language.
