A partially sighted pensioner, Ray Flynn, 80, from Manchester, is the first patient in the world to undergo the procedure as well as the only human being to have both natural and artificial sight.

The retired engineer has AMD, the most common cause of sight loss which affects between 20 million to 25 million people worldwide. After suffering from deteriorating central vision for eight years, Flynn underwent the successful operation which has restored his sight.

The Argus II retinal implant which was developed by Second Sight Medical Products, converts video images captured by a miniature camera installed in the patient’s glasses into a number of electrical pulses that are then sent to electrodes on the surface of the retina.

Despite over 130 successful operations worldwide, Flynn is the only patient that had no peripheral vision, making his case completely unique.

Flynn said: “Before when I was looking at a plant in the garden it was like a honeycomb in the centre of my eye. That has now disappeared. I can now walk round the garden and see things."

“It’s definitely improved my vision, but I haven’t been out and about on a bus yet. I don’t think I will for a little while,” noted the octogenarian.

Professor Paulo Stanga, consultant ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon at the hospital, said. “Mr Flynn’s progress is truly remarkable. He is seeing the outline of people and objects very effectively...“Ray had to do everything with his peripheral vision, it’s very tiring, it is exhausting. What we are hoping to achieve is to improve Ray’s central vision so he does not have to work so hard with his peripheral vision.”

“This is new information that Ray’s brain is receiving and his brain now needs to get used to interpreting it. He has not given up on losing his central vision. He is a motivated patient and that is crucial,” Professor Stanga added.

Following the success of Flynn’s operation, Stanga is now hoping to recruit four more trial patients in Manchester. “On behalf of the Manchester Royal Eye hospital, we feel privileged to be conducting the world’s first study into retinal implants for patients with AMD. This technology is revolutionary and changes patients’ lives - restoring some functional vision and helping them to live more independently,” he said.