Wednesday, September 19, 2012

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.