The Eye & Ultraviolet Radiation

Let’s explain the dangers of exposure to UV and the eye, mainly because we want everyone to understand why protection is so important. In studies 82% of people understanding the harmful effect of UV to skin, but only 9% of people are even aware of these harmful effects on the eye. Look in the upcoming “Eye Safety” blog for some solutions and protection.

Extended exposure to UV has been linked to eye damage, including cataracts, macular degeneration, pingueculae, pterygia and photokeratitis.  New research suggests that the sun’s high-energy visible (HEV) radiation; also called “blue light” may increase your long term risk of macular degeneration.  In fact, experts say as much as 80% of our lifetime exposure to UV rays occurs by age 18.  The risk of damage to our eyes and skin from solar UV radiation is cumulative. With this in mind, it is especially important for kids to protect their eyes from the sun, and generally they spend more time outdoors.

Contact lenses block UV rays, shielding only a portion of the eye. UV rays can still damage your conjunctiva and other tissues not covered by the lens, including the delicate skin around the eyes. While driving, you experience blinding glare that prevents you from seeing clearly, making it more likely to be in traffic accidents or have delayed reaction time.

Let’s now talk about UVB, maybe the most understood energy rays. These rays are filtered partially by the ozone layer, but some still reach the earth’s surface.  In low doses, UVB radiation stimulates the protection of melanin (a skin pigment), causing the skin to darken, creating a suntan. But in higher doses, UVB rays cause sunburn that increases the risk of cancer. UVB rays also cause skin discoloration, wrinkles and other signs of premature aging of the skin. Skin cancer of the eyelid accounts for 5-10% off all skin cancer and 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer. 

Below is the US Environmental Protection Agency Standards.  Boston average UV Index was between 1.2 and 8.2 in 2008. But looking below it is important to eye health to wear sunglasses daily.

UV Index	Risk Level	Recommendations
2 or less	Low	1. Wear sunglasses 2. If you burn easily, use sunscreen with SPF 15+
3-5	Moderate	1. Wear sunglasses 2. Cover up and use sunscreen 3. Stay in shade near midday, when sun is strongest
6-7	High	1. Wear sunglasses 2. Cover up and use sunscreen 3. Reduce time in the sun between 10am-4pm
8-10	Very High	1. Wear sunglasses 2. Cover up and use sunscreen 3. Minimize sun exposure between 10am-4pm
11+	Extreme	1. Wear sunglasses 2. Apply sunscreen (SPF 15+) liberally every 2 hours 3. Try to avoid sun exposure between 10am-4pm

For more information on UV protection, contact D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937.  You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

Reference sources:  Skin Cancer Foundation, Healthy Sight Counseling, Home Facts, Crizal, All About Vision

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 Pediatric Ophthalmologist on Nearsighted Risk in Children

Boston Pediatric Ophthalmologist Oren Weisberg, M.D. reviewed information about nearsighted risk or risk of myopia in children. “Parents who are nearsighted themselves or who have children with nearsightedness are often curious about causes their myopia and how it might be prevented,’ commented Dr. Weisberg.

According to research reported at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology on the risk of nearsightedness, or myopia, in children, increased time spent in natural light and viewing distant objects during childhood may reduce the risk of nearsightedness. A review of data of 10,400 participants showed that for each additional hour outdoors per week, the chance of developing myopia dropped by about 2%, according to a presentation at the annual meeting. It was reported that myopic or nearsighted children included in the study tended to spend about 3.7 fewer hours per week outdoors than children with normal vision or hyperopia. Furthermore, increasing outdoor time might reduce the chances of myopia worsening, according to the release.

If you or someone you know has questions about children’s eye health and vision, risk of nearsightedness or myopia or wish to schedule an eye examination for children of any age with Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Oren L. Weisberg, M.D., please feel free to 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.

Eye Exam Retinoscopy Test: What is It?

At your D’Ambrosio Eye Care eye exam you will probably have a test called Retinoscopy. Retinoscopy is a technique to measure the refractive error of the eye. Your eye doctor will use a retinoscope to shine a light into the back of the eye and observe the reflection of light off the retina.  While moving the light, lenses of different powers are placed in front of the eye until the refection of light in neutralized.  The combination of lenses required to neutralize the reflection of light is used to calculate an estimate of the patient's prescription for eyeglasses. 

Retinoscopy has a number of uses.  Your doctor can use retinoscopy as a starting point when determining the final prescription for glasses.  In some patients, such as young children or people with severe mental disabilities, retinoscopy may be the only reliable method of determining a spectacle prescription.  Observing the appearance of the reflection of light when performing retinoscopy can help an eye doctor confirm certain ocular conditions such as cataracts or keratoconus.  It can also be used to help determine the accommodative, or focusing, ability of the patient.

If you or someone you know would like to schedule an eye examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care, please call us at 800-325-3937, visit 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.

Massachusetts Eye Surgeons on Glaucoma & Cataracts

Cataract patients with glaucoma have the option of a new treatment option at D’Ambrosio Eye Care. Massachusetts eye surgeon Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr., M.D. shared some thoughts about the iStent® Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent as a treatment option to reduce eye pressure for cataract patients with glaucoma. “We started using iStent® to better help cataract patients with glaucoma. It’s really meaningful as we believe patients will need to use fewer eye drops for their glaucoma treatment and we are hopeful that they might not need to use prescription eye drops at all,” explained Dr. D’Ambrosio Jr.

The iStent® is FDA-approved for use in conjunction with cataract surgery to reduce eye pressure in adult patients with mild-to moderate open-angle glaucoma currently being treated with glaucoma medicine. In clinical trials, iStent® has been shown to safely reduce eye pressure, which is the primary cause of open-angle glaucoma.

“What we know-and frankly what concerns us, is that 90% of glaucoma patients do not follow the instructions for using their glaucoma eye drops and some 50% actually discontinue taking their medication after 6 months. This is a real problem as when the eye pressure is not well controlled it increases the risk of permanent irreversible vision loss,” further emphasized Dr. D’Ambrosio Jr. “That’s why I brought iStent® into our practice-it’s an important advancement in preserving eye health and vision.”

Massachusetts Glaucoma Specialist Bin Wu, M.D. of D’Ambrosio Eye Care added, “As an eye surgeon who is a glaucoma specialist and performs cataract surgery, what I am impressed with is the very tiny-microscopic-size of the iStent®. This allows me to implant it without adding too much time during cataract surgery and without my patients even being aware of it in the eye. In addition-if we can help patients use less eye drops or none at all, this lowers the cost of their ongoing glaucoma care which is very important.”

If you or someone you know suffers from cataracts or glaucoma and wishes to learn more or schedule an eye examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care please call us at 800-325-3937, visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including providing general and glaucoma care in Athol, Acton, 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.

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.

Boston Corneal Specialist on LASIK & Dry Eyes

“As a corneal specialist who is a LASIK surgeon I have many ways of helping patients both avoid and manage LASIK related dry eyes,” shared JoAnn Chang, M.D. a Boston Corneal Specialist at D’Ambrosio Eye Care with eye care and LASIK offices in Athol, Lancaster, Acton and Gardner, MA. “By far the most common side effect of LASIK is dry eyes. In fact, it is pretty much expected and pretty normal for all LASIK patients to have temporary dry eye symptoms after their treatment. The critical thing to know is that the dry eye symptoms should be temporary.”

“What I like to emphasize with my LASIK patients is that they need to remember that LASIK is corneal surgery. Any time we do corneal surgery we typically sever some corneal nerves and also temporarily disturb the delicate cells on the surface of the eye. This happens during cataract surgery and any other eye surgery procedures that involve the cornea,” Dr. Chang explained. She further explained, “These corneal nerves are connected to the Lacrimal Gland which is responsible for producing tears-so when the nerves are temporarily interrupted there is a decrease in the amount of tears that are produced making your eyes feel dry and gritty.”

To make you more comfortable during the time it takes for the corneal nerves to heal and regenerate we may do one of more of the following for you:

· Prescribe Artificial Tear Eye Drops
· Insert Tiny Tear Duct Plugs
· Prescribe Restasis® Eye Drops
· Prescribe Dietary Supplements with Omega-3 Oils

Each of the above acts to either retain the tears that you have, supplement the tears that are lacking or help you produce more of your own tears so that you will be most comfortable and heal properly. Each person will regenerate the fine corneal nerves at a DIFFERENT RATE and thus will need to use one or more of the above tear helpers for different amounts of time. A very important consideration is how healthy your tear film was BEFORE your surgery. A critical part of your LASIK consultation will be a careful examination of your tear film. Sometimes, in order to make you the most comfortable and make the healing and visual recovery process as quick and easy as possible for you, we may actually prescribe one or more of the above BEFORE your surgery.

If you, or someone you know, has questions about LASIK and dry eyes or would like to schedule a free LASIK Evaluation please call and schedule an appointment at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling 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 with offices in Athol, Lancaster, Acton, Gardner 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 Facebook Contest Cool School Eyewear

D’Ambrosio Eye Care invites students under 21 going back to school to enter our Facebook Cool School Eyewear Contest, show off their coolest eyewear and win an IPod Touch. “Beginning on September 15, 2012 if you are back in school and would like to win an IPod now is your chance,” said Judith Seppa of D’Ambrosio Eye Care. “To enter on September 14th you just need to go to facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare and post a picture wearing your coolest new back to school eyeglasses along with an essay in 100 words or less as to why they are the coolest-then on October 15^th get your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins-all of your friends, relatives and classmates to vote for you-they can each vote one time each day until October 21. Whoever gets the most votes-GETS THE IPod!”

Ø  Go to www.facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare

Ø  Find the Cool School Eyewear app

Ø  LIKE the Practice, Upload a Photo and Submit an Essay in 100 words or less as to why they are the coolest.

We will be accepting entries between September 14, 2012 and October 14, 2012. Then beginning on October 15, 2012 we will open the contest to allow you, your friends, relatives and classmates to vote for you once each day.  Whoever has the most votes by their friends, relatives and classmates will be the coolest person selected to win an IPod with, complements of our practice!! So-be sure to tell your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins-all of your friends, relatives and classmates that you have entered and they should vote for you.

There is no entry fee or cost of any kind to enter the Facebook Cool School Eyewear Contest!

Fall UV Protection in Massachusetts

Now that fall is officially here, it brings different challenges for your eyes.  Beach days may be over for the season here in New England, and as we turn our sights toward fall and winter, eye care and protection is just as important.

Fall brings many home-improvement projects and safety glasses should be the first item you grab from your tool box!  Eye safety is so important and you want to protect yourself as much as possible.  Folks are tuning up chain saws and getting their snow blowers ready for the upcoming winter season. Grab those protective glasses. Our Optical Departments offer a varied selection of protective eyewear in both prescription and non-prescription. 

Many folks enjoy the many varied outdoor social activities of fall:  hiking, bike riding, and more.  D’Ambrosio Eye Care wants to remind you that even though the sun may not feel as strong, it’s still important to protect against UV rays.  If you’re doing activities that may result in an eye injury, don’t forget protective eyewear, too!

For more information, or to schedule and eye exam, please call 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.

Eyelid Inflammation & Infection Problems

Boston Ophthalmologist Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr., M.D. commented on eyelid inflammation and infection problems such as blepharitis. “Eyelid inflammation, called blepharitis, is a common chronic problem where the eyelids become inflamed, reddened and swollen with oily particles and bacteria coating the eyelid margin near the base of the eyelashes. This annoying condition causes irritation, itchiness, redness, and stinging or burning, of the eyes,” said Dr. D’Ambrosio Jr.

The exact causes of blepharitis aren't completely understood but we do know that it can be associated with a bacterial eye infection, symptoms of dry eyes or certain types of skin conditions such as acne rosacea. Blepharitis is often an ongoing, condition, but it can be controlled with one of more types of treatment that may include warm compresses, eyelid scrubs, antibiotic ointment, nutritional therapy and good overall eyebrow, scalp and hair hygiene.

If you or someone you know suffers from eyelid inflammation, infection and blepharitis 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.

Down Syndrome & Specs 4 Us

There is good news for people with Down syndrome who need eyeglasses and eyewear. About 5,000 newborns per year are diagnosed with Down syndrome in the U.S. and 87% of those will need corrective eyewear by age 3. Typically, these children have easily recognizable facial features, including very small noses, shortened depth from the eye socket to the ear and especially close set eyes with wide faces. As a result frames do not properly fit their face and typically slide down and the temples are usually bowed and uncomfortable. At D’Ambrosio Eye Care we carry Specs 4 Us, a frame line that addresses these concerns. Unlike other frames, the bridge is adjusted to fit on their smaller noses and the temples are designed to help keep the glasses from constantly slipping.

If you have any questions or need more information on Specs 4 Us or other types of eyewear frames, please stop by the optical departments at any location of D’Ambrosio Eye Care or call at 800-325-3937, visit 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 practice serving 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.

Reference source:  Specs 4 Us

Boston Doctor on Children’s Eye Health & Safety

Boston Pediatric Ophthalmologist Oren Weisberg, M.D., commented on children’s eye health, safety and vision problems. “Prevent Blindness America has designated September as Children’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness Month. Eye and vision problems affect one in twenty preschoolers and one in four school aged children. Parents should be aware that it is possible for their children to have a serious vision problem without even being aware of it,” said Dr. Weisberg of D’Ambrosio Eye Care with offices serving greater Boston and central Massachusetts.

Infants should be screened for common eye problems during their regular pediatric appointments and vision testing should be conducted for all children starting at around three years of age. If there is a family history of eye problems, or if an eye problem is apparent, it is important to bring it to the attention of and eye doctor so that they can advise the parents about when and how often their child’s eyes should be examined. Among the conditions an eye doctor will look for are amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid), color deficiency (color blindness) and refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism). "Aside from vision-threatening conditions, eye screenings for children are important because vision changes can occur without you or your child noticing them," further noted Dr. Weisberg. “If your child is having trouble seeing the blackboard or the words in a book, learning, as well as participating in recreational activities, can be impacted. While vision problems can interfere with school performance, it's important to distinguish them from learning disorders”, commented Dr. Weisberg.

“You also have to protect your child’s eyes from the danger of eye injuries. Be sure that the toys your child plays with are appropriate for his or her age and maturity level. Avoid toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts. Participation in any type of sport also could endanger your child’s eyes, so make sure he or she wears appropriate protective eyewear,” said Dr. Weisberg.

To schedule a pediatric eye examination for your child, call D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare or by visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care.
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.