Boston Eyewear Choices

Making eyewear choices in Boston requires some thought to look your best. Eyewear should repeat your best personal feature, contrasting with your face shape, size and coloring. For instance if you have a round face, with curved lines with the width and length of your face being the same proportion with no hard angles, you would be best fit into an angular narrow frame to lengthen the face and widen the eyes. Or even a diamond shaped face, one where you are narrow at the eye line and jaw line. You would also have broad cheekbones that may be high and dramatic. This is the rarest face shape and frames that best suit this shape are rimless or oval shapes. Those are just two examples.

For color tones, your skin, eyes and hair fall into either a cool tone or a warm tone. For example cool tones have blue or pink undertones and warm has peach or yellow. Olive skin is considered cool because it is a mixture of blue and yellow. Brown eyes can vary from light amber, a warm tone to medium brown-black, a cool tone. For skin tone, 60% of our population is considered cool toned.
Some examples of frame colors best suited for these tones are below:

Cool Tones: black, rose-brown, blue-gray, plum, magenta, pink, jade, blue and dark tortoise.
Warm Tones: camel, khaki, gold, copper, peach, orange, coral, off-white, fire red, warm blue and blond tortoise.

To figure out which frame fits and suits you best and will not only look good but will also be comfortable, you should work with a licensed optician because finding the right frame among displays of frames can be overwhelming. Opticians at D’Ambrosio Eye Care understand that and are here to assist you with determining the best frame style for your personal needs and style.
Stop by any of our optical departments or call D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help you see and look your best.

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Boston Corneal Specialist on Eye Health, Contacts & Swimming

Boston Corneal Specialist JoAnn C. Chang, M.D. of D’Ambrosio Eye Care commented on eye health, contact lenses and swimming. “Understanding how swimming can affect your eyes, eye health and vision is worth learning a little about as summer typically means lots of water activities for all of us,” said Dr. Chang. ”In general, unless you are wearing goggles, it is best not to swim with your eyes open under water and whenever possible, to avoid splashes of water into your eyes. This is because the various types of pool chemicals that are used for keeping the water clean and free of contamination may actually be irritating at a minimum and in some instances damaging to the surface of the eye,” she further explained. Maintaining the proper pH levels in swimming pools takes considerable monitoring and effort and as the pH varies so does the possibility of eye irritation. Your natural tears have a pH of 7.0, if the pH of the pool water is below or above that level that level, it will certainly cause your eyes to burn or sting. The proper pH level for swimming pools is in the range of 7.2 to 7.8. If the pH is maintained within this range, burning eyes shouldn't be a problem for swimmers.

If you plan on spending any lengthy period of time in the water you should protect your eyes by wearing goggles. Swimming with contact lenses is very risky. The eye health risk of swimming with contacts depends on the body of water you are in. When swimming on lakes and in rivers there is a considerable risk of the microorganism, Acanthamoeba, adhering to your contacts. Acanthamoeba keratitis is a severe and potentially blinding infection and inflammation of the cornea. This same risk is present when wearing contacts in hot tubs or spas. While the risk of sight-threatening infection is lesser in properly chlorinated swimming pools and the ocean, other problems may be encountered. In a swimming pool eye irritation is possible when chlorine sticks on the surface of your lenses. In the ocean, your contact lenses can be dislodged when you encounter large waves. You need to carefully consider whether to wear contact lenses while swimming. Keeping your head out of the water and wearing goggles will help to greatly reduce risk.
If you worry about not being able to see clearly without glasses or contacts and want to see clearly while in the pool or ocean, you may wish to consider LASIK as a vision correction method so as not to be dependent on eyeglasses or contacts for swimming.
If you or someone you know has questions about swimming, swimming pools, eye health, vision and contact lenses please feel free to schedule an eye examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.
 Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Visual Field Testing

A visual field test, also called Perimetry, measures the sensitivity of a person's central and peripheral vision. There are several types of visual field testing including the Tangent Screen, Goldmann visual fields and automated visual fields. The standard type of visual field test is called automated static Perimetry. In this test, a patient is shown light stimuli of varying intensities in the central and peripheral vision. A person can have perfect 20/20 vision centrally but have peripheral vision loss without even being aware of it. Some causes of peripheral vision loss are glaucoma, retinal disease, and optic neuritis. Some brain tumors can also cause peripheral vision loss. If the visual field test shows vision loss in a characteristic pattern, it can help the eye doctor diagnose the cause of the problem.

Michael Fu, O.D., Optometrist at D’Ambrosio Eye Care tells us “This test can take 5 to 10 minutes per eye and the results are not always consistent. Taking the test more than once is usually necessary to establish a consistent baseline. Periodic testing is usually performed to monitor for any subtle changes over time. Visual field testing can catch vision changes early in the process before significant vision loss occurs and is considered one of the main tests to monitor the visual status in glaucoma patients.”

If you are having problems with your vision, or would like more information on visual field testing, contact D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Boston Doctor on Eyestrain Problems

Boston Ophthalmologist Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr., M.D. commented on eyestrain problems and tired eyes. “Today, particularly with the amount of time patients spend on computers or devices with digital displays, it is quite common to have them tell us they have eyestrain or tired eyes.  What eyestrain really is, is the term that describes the eye and vision problem called “asthenopia,” stated Dr. D’Ambrosio Jr. “Eyestrain, or asthenopia, is the eye condition that results when the eyes get tired from excessive or intense use. In general although eyestrain or tired eyes can be pretty annoying, the symptoms disappear when we stop using our eyes for a while and rest. Typically, eyestrain is not a serious condition, but could indicate some underlying problem that needs to be addressed especially if it is related to headaches, double vision, difficulty concentrating and fatigue,” he further explained.

People who report eyestrain often do so by complaining about symptoms of fatigue, dull eye pain or discomfort, blurry vision, double vision, headaches, dry eyes, light sensitivity and sometimes even a stiff or sore neck. Eyestrain is very common among people who use or work on computers or play video games for prolonged periods of time. The use of computer screens of any sort along with uncorrected common refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and the age related near vision focusing problem presbyopia is a frequent cause of eyestrain. Along with even slight eye muscle imbalances, these focusing problems can really result in annoying eye fatigue and strain.

If you or someone you know suffers from eyestrain symptoms they are encouraged to schedule an eye examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help identify the possible causes and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear  and optical services.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Children’s Vision at D’Ambrosio Eye Care

As your child ages they will be fine-tuning the vision they have already developed. Watch for warning signs of visual problems, such as holding a book close to the face, sitting too close to the TV, squinting, head tilting, eye rubbing or sensitivity to light.  Even if your child exhibits no symptoms of a visual problem, they should have some form of an eye screening by three years of age. This allows enough time to catch any problems while the visual system is still flexible and can be improved. The Massachusetts Governor mandates that all preschoolers have a vision screening 12 months prior to entry into kindergarten.

A comprehensive eye exam, performed at D’Ambrosio Eye Care, measures a number of visual skills that are critical to a child’s healthy vision, such as using both eyes as a team, the ability of the eyes to focus properly when reading a book, or viewing a computer.  Help us to help you keep your child’s vision healthy by calling us if you have any questions about your child’s eyes and keeping all scheduled appointments.

The Optical Departments at D’Ambrosio Eye Care offer a Parents Painless Growth Program.  Throughout your child’s life their vision is growing and changing much like the size of their clothes or shoes.  Some children will need to have prescription eyeglasses as their eyes grow. For many children, their prescription can change more than once each year until their eyes are fully developed.  In cases like this, we realize that purchasing a new pair of lenses with each change could become costly to parents and so we offer this program. This program offers your child free lens changes for these premature changes that happen earlier than routine eye examinations (up to age 18).  All you need to do is be sure that one of our doctors continues to care for your child’s eyes.  If we decide that your child’s eyes are outgrowing their lenses we will change them for free!!  We also offer a $15 instant rebate on Transitions® 6 lenses or Scotchgard™ Non-Glare lenses.
Stop by anytime and speak with our opticians who are specially-trained to fit eyeglasses for children.  If you have any questions, please call D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937.

Cataract Surgery & Lens Implant Cost

Boston Cataract Surgeon, Francis D’Ambrosio Jr., M.D. explained, “The cost of cataract surgery and lens implants can get a little confusing. Almost all insurances and Medicare cover the bulk of the cost of cataract surgery and basic lens implants. HOWEVER, deductibles, co-pays and the extent to which certain services are or are not covered can affect the actual amount you might need to pay out of pocket.” 

Here is some helpful information that will help patients better understand cataract surgery and lens implant cost.

Preoperative Testing and Consultation
With the exception of co-pays and deductibles specific to your insurance plan the eye examination, consultation and measurements necessary for cataract surgery and basic Intraocular Lens (IOL) implantation are covered services. If there are specialized tests that might be required such as more precise types of testing for multifocal lens implants or toric lens implants, you may need to pay for these tests out of pocket as your insurance and Medicare may only cover the basic testing. If this is the case, these extra tests may range in cost up to a few or several hundred dollars depending on the scope of the necessary testing.

Surgery Center Facility Fee
The surgery center facility fee is generally covered by insurances and Medicare although there may be a small co-pay or deductible with certain plans. This fee will cover the use of the facility including the operating room, the nursing staff, the instrumentation and equipment and all related operating room supplies. Depending on the types of anesthesia used it is possible that there will be an additional fee-mostly covered by your insurance or Medicare-for the administration of anesthesia and the staff.

Cataract Surgeon’s Fee
The cataract surgeon’s fee is generally covered by insurances and Medicare although there may be a small co-pay or deductible with certain plans.

Lens Implant Fee
The cost of a basic Monofocal lens implant lens implant is generally covered by insurances and Medicare within the facility fee. However, should you and your cataract surgeon elect to use an astigmatism correcting toric lens implant or multifocal lens implant there will be an out of pocket fee as most insurances and Medicare do not cover these more advanced types of lens implants.

If you or someone you know has questions about the cost of Cataract Surgery and Lens Implant please feel free to call D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937.  You may also request anappointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear  and optical services.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Laser Vision Correction & Crossed Eyes

Boston Ophthalmologist Francis A. D’Ambrosio, Jr., M.D. comments on Laser Vision Correction, Crossed Eyes and farsightedness. “We have some new treatment methods that may help children with “crossed eyes. Some children with crossed eyes have this condition because they also have a condition called hyperopia or farsightedness.” Hyperopia is a condition where the eyes have to focus an extra amount just to see clearly. However, when the eyes are focusing this extra amount, they also tend to pull inward-this is called a convergent strabismus or crossed eyes. Dr. D’Ambrosio continues, “Traditionally, to correct this condition, children are fitted with thick eyeglasses with an uneven shape to the lenses, which we call a prism. This allows the child to be able to have their eyes straight and to see clearly without the extra focusing power that causes the convergence and, therefore, the crossed eyes.”

A recent study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology reported that Laser Vision Correction can be used to treat this condition of convergent strabismus. As in adults who have Laser Vision Correction, also known as LASIK, to correction their vision for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, using this option for selected children can be used to treat the farsightedness or hyperopia. Children will then not need the thick glasses to decrease the need for the extra focusing power. Therefore, when the children don’t have to focus as hard, their eyes do not turn inward. The results of the study show an 80% decrease in the amount of eye turning after the Laser Vision Correction procedure.

“This is a very exciting study and shows that we may have even better treatment for children who have this condition,” continued Dr. D’Ambrosio, Jr. “By treating these children early and decreasing their crossed eyes, they will have better visual function. As studies have proven, when the visual function is better, children do better in all activities, including school, sports and social interactions,” stated Dr. D’Ambrosio, Jr.

Should you notice that your child has “crossed eyes” or hyperopia, please contact D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937 to schedule an appointment. D’Ambrosio Eye Care has a pediatric ophthalmologist available to see your child. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, diagnosis and treatment of cataracts with cataract surgery and advanced technology intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK Eye Surgery, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading center for eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

UV Eye Protection in Boston

As we enter the summer months in Boston, protecting your eyes from UV should be an important part of your daily routine in order to maintain your eye health and vision. A number of scientific studies indicate that spending long hours in the sun without eye protection can damage your eyes by contributing to cataracts and growths on the eye, including cancer. Based on these studies, D’Ambrosio Eye Care recommends that you wear 99 percent and higher UV (ultraviolet radiation)-absorbent sunglasses and a brimmed hat whenever you're in the sun for long periods of time.

Proper sunglasses are critical to protecting your eyes from sun-related damage, and they should be worn anytime you are outdoors, particularly during the summer when the level of ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB) is at least three time higher than during the winter, when you are at the beach or in the water, when you are participating in winter sports, especially at high altitudes where the UV is particularly strong and if you use medications that can cause sensitivity to light.

The best sunglasses offer 100 percent UV absorption, are of the best optical quality and are impact resistant. If you wear contact lenses, they may not protect your eyes from UV light. There are contact lenses available with UV protection. If you do not have contact lenses that absorb UV light, you need to protect your eyes with sunglasses.

But keep in mind that sunglasses cannot protect your eyes from certain intense light sources such as arc welding, tanning beds/lights, snowfields or gazing directly at the sun, especially during a solar eclipse. These intense lights can severely damage your eyes. Looking at any of these light sources without adequate protection can cause a painful corneal condition called photokeratitis or even damage to the retina, causing a permanent loss of central vision. D’Ambrosio Eye Care is happy to recommend the appropriate measures to take to protect your eyes in special situations.

If you have questions, or need an appointment to learn more about protecting your eyes from UV, please call D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract care including cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.