LASIK Story from Stephanie

Before my LASIK procedure, my vision was so bad I could not even find my glasses in the morning! I was always afraid of losing my glasses or contact lens and being totally helpless.

Although I was very nervous at the thought of LASIK, I felt more at ease after my consultation at D’Ambrosio Eye Care. I had been walked through every step with detailed explanations by a confident staff. I was still a little bit nervous on the day of my LASIK, but the staff really puts you at ease and talks you through every step. 

Before I knew it, it was done and I was ready to go home to take a nap! Now, I can see every detail with more clarity than any pair of glasses or contact lenses. I could not be happier. Thank you all so much!

Stephanie

Contact Lens Success & Age of Fitting

Sometimes parents wonder what the best age is to fit their children with contact lenses is in order to give them the most successful and safest wearing experience. Researchers reporting in Eye & Contact Lens: Science and Clinical Practice  studied differences  in current symptoms, compliance, ocular health and adverse events between current successful long–term contact lens wearers fit as children or as teenagers. They found that successful contact lens wearers fit as children are no more likely to report previous contact lens–related adverse events, problems with compliance, decreased wearing time, or worse ocular health than those fit as teenagers amd suggest that parents should not rely on age as a primary determinant in fitting children with contact lenses, but should rely on their eye doctor’s recommendations and evaluation of their child.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about contact lens fitting for children 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'AmbrosioEye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Omega 3 Supplements for Age Related Macular Degeneration

Omega 3 supplements may provide benefits for reducing the risk of age related macular degeneration (AMD). Taking diet supplements with antioxidant vitamins C and E, Beta Carotene and Zinc has been shown to reduce the risk of progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). In addition to this “AREDS Supplement Formulation”, some data suggests that increased dietary intake of lutein + zeaxanthin (carotenoids), omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] + eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]), or both might further reduce this risk.

Researchers from the Age Related Eye Disease 2 (AREDS) Research Group reporting in the Journal of the  American Medical Association concluded that the addition of lutein + zeaxanthin, DHA + EPA, or both to the AREDS formulation did not further reduce risk of progression to advanced AMD but lutein + zeaxanthin could be an appropriate carotenoid substitute in the AREDS formulation for former smokers who were at risk for lung cancer.

If you or someone you know is concerned about age related macular degeneration risk or has any family history of AMD 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 orfacebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'AmbrosioEye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 79 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Voted Best Optical & Eye Care!

D'Ambrosio Eye Care, Inc. has been voted the “Best Optical and Best Eye Care” for 2014 by the Reader’s Choice Awards of the Leominster Champion.  “Our staff spends a great deal of time, effort and energy delivering eye care, services and products to the central Massachusetts community. We do it with dedication to being easily available and convenient for patients in terms of hours and locations, we do it in a friendly but professional manner and we do it affordably,” said Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr., M.D. “Eye health and vision care along with great eyewear is who we are. It is always nice and rewarding to hear from patients and organizations, that we are doing a good job for central Massachusetts residents-THANK YOU to all of the patients and friends in our community!”

If you have questions about any aspect of eye heath and vision or eyeglasses or eyewear please contact us by calling D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Eyeglass & Eyewear Trunk Show in Lancaster on Saturday December 6 from 9:00am to 1:00pm

Great News from D’Ambrosio Eye Care! We are inviting you to attend the showing of winter eyeglass and eyewear lines from leading designers and eyeglass lens manufacturers at the 

Winter Trunk Show!! 

Lancaster Office

479 Old Union Turnpike

Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523

 on 

Saturday, December 6, 2014 

from 

9:00 AM-1:00 PM.

“We know that central and western Massachusetts eyeglass wearers as well as many patients from the greater Boston areas look forward to visiting us during our eyeglass trunk shows so that they can see the latest eyeglasses and eyewear fashions and high technology eyeglass lenses. Our trunk shows give eyeglass wearers an opportunity to see the new frame lines, try them on and consult with our opticians and frame stylists as well as the manufacturers’ representatives from the top designers,” said Jocelyn Mylott, Optical Manager at D’Ambrosio Eye Care. “We will feature eyeglass frames from Juicy Couture, Carrera, Liz Claiborne, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Denim and Banana Republic to name a few. Our staff will be available to assist guests in eyeglass lens selection in order to configure the best looking, best fitting and best performing eyeglass choices. Anyone attending who orders eyeglasses at the trunk show will be given a 35% discount on complete eyeglasses and lenses,” explained Ms. Mylott.

For additional information you may contact D’Ambrosio Eye Care Toll Free at 1-800-325-3937 or you may visit www.dambrosioeyecare.com or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

Polarized Sunglasses Improved with Crizal® Sun

If you currently have non-glare on your primary clear pair of eyewear you already know the benefits of non-glare.  How it reduces the glare reflecting off your lenses, how driving at night is easier and, with the premium non-glare, keeping your lenses clean has never been easier.  Why would you not want those benefits on your sunglasses?  Since you cannot apply non-glare to the front surface of a polarized lens, because it can affect the polarization process and reduces the darkness of the lens, patients have only been able to get these benefits on the backside until Crizal® Sun.  

Crizal® Sun has the non-glare properties applied to the backside of the lens, reducing the amount glare and light reflected directly into the wearer’s eye from light behind them.  The difference with this lens is the cleanability of non-glare is applied to the front surface, making your lenses stay cleaner and be easier to clean.  This feature can also come with or without a grey mirror coating.

Diabetic Retinopathy & Weight Loss Surgery

What does weight loss surgery have to do with diabetic retinopathy? Researchers reporting at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association on a small pilot study found weight-loss surgery might accelerate progression of diabetic retinopathy in some cases. In the study, seven of the 40 or 17.5% of the diabetes patients screened about a year before and again after bariatric surgery suffered a progression of their diabetic retinopathy as compared with the 2% to 4% of the overall diabetes patients who develop retinopathy each year. The opposite impact might have been expected. If you have a condition such as diabetic retinopathy that is the result of the diabetes and the diabetes is in remission, it makes intuitive sense that the progression of the condition would be arrested. Although a few patients did appear to have regression of their eye disease most remained unchanged after surgery in the study.

The patients who did progress had higher pre-surgical glucose levels and the greatest reduction in glucose levels afterward. A rapid reduction in blood glucose after the weight loss surgery-which is called “normoglycemic re-entry” or a temporary anemic episode after the weight loss surgery may actually be responsible for in the progression of preexisting diabetic retinopathy, but the mechanism is really unclear and requires a great deal of further investigation. One fact for sure-even if after weight loss surgery your blood glucose is normal, people with moderate background diabetic retinopathy prior to weight loss surgery should be monitored closely post-surgery for evidence of progression.

If you or someone you know is diabetic and considering weight loss surgery 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 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 with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Diabetic Retinopathy Increases Cardiovascular Events

Research has found that diabetic retinopathy may predict an increased risk in cardiovascular events as we now see a close association between the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy and future cardiovascular (CV) events such as heart attack or stroke. The relationship between diabetic retinopathy, its 4-year progression, and CV outcomes including CV death or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke was analyzed in participants in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial who also participated in the ACCORD Eye Study. The diabetic retinopathy was classified as either none, mild, moderate, or severe and whether it was worsening was also graded. The hazard of CV death or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke increased by 38% for every category of change in retinopathy severity and steps of progression further raised the hazard. Thus the researchers believe that both the severity of retinopathy and its progression are determinants of predisposition to CV outcomes. The retina may provide an anatomical index of the effect of metabolic and hemodynamic factors on future CV outcomes.

If you or someone you know is concerned about cardiovascular risk such as heart attack or stroke as a result of diabetic retinopathy 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Highlighting Diabetic Eye Disease Problems

Prevent Blindness America has designated November as National Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month in order to highlight the risks of diabetic eye disease problems. Patients need to be aware that diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age. There are almost 8 million people ages 40 and older who have diabeticretinopathy. This represents a significant increase due to the aging of the baby boomer population along with an epidemic of obesity and diabetes.

While there is no cure for diabetic retinopathy, the vision loss from diabetic eye problems can be prevented if it's caught early and treated in time. More than one third of those diagnosed with diabetes do not adhere to vision care guidelines recommending a dilated eye exam every year. As part of Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month we are urging people with diabetes to have a dilated eye exam every year. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater his or her risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. However, diabetic retinopathy does not only affect people who have had diabetes for many years, it can also appear within the first year or two after the onset of the disease.

In addition to having regular eye examinations and testing at the direction of your eye doctor, patients can help to reduce the risk of developing diabetic eye disease  by not smoking, controlling their cholesterol and lipid profile and blood pressure, as well as working to eat a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables and exercising. 

If you or someone you know has diabetes or even elevated blood sugar levels they should work to prevent diabetic eye disease and problems with regular eye exams by calling D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Vision Quality with LASIK vs. Ortho-K Contact Lenses

Researchers reporting in the journal Cornea compared the differences in vision quality between Ortho-K contact lenses and LASIK for the treatment of low-to-moderate myopia. LASIK is a type of laser eye surgery that provides a method of vision correction to help people with common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism see clearly at distance without being dependent on glasses or contact lenses. Ortho-K or Orthokeratology is a method of contact lens fitting used to temporarily reshape the cornea to allow people to see at distance and be independent of eyeglasses and contacts for periods of time throughout the day. The results in this study suggest that LASIK provides better vision quality outcomes than Ortho-K contact lenses for the treatment of low-to-moderate myopia and thus LASIK should be favored for those in need of the best vision.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about LASIK or schedule a Free LASIK consultation 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Caution on Decorative Contact Lenses for Halloween

The eye doctors and staff at D’Ambrosio Eye Care want to caution patients about the use of decorative contact lenses for Halloween. According to the Food and Drug Administration, all contact lenses are regulated medical devices that require a prescription and proper fitting by an eye-care professional. Even someone with perfect vision would still require an eye exam and a prescription in order to wear any kind of contacts, including cosmetic lenses. Some websites advertise decorative contacts as if they were fashion accessories or toys with fanciful, playful packaging in order to attract teens and young adults, especially girls. The problem is not that people use decorative, noncorrective lenses, but that they buy the devices without a prescription through unlicensed vendors on the Internet or at flea markets and specialty shops.

Michael Fu, O.D.

“People buying these over-the-counter decorative contact lenses face considerable risk including scratched corneas, pink eye and more serious types of blinding infection as a result of corneal ulcers,” explained Massachusetts Optometrist& Contact Lens Specialist Dr. Michael Fu. 

The safe and effective use of contact lenses-whether decorative or not-requires proper fitting and education about their care to prevent the potential for serious eye  problems from becoming a reality. If you or a friend would like to learn more about contact lenses of any type including decorative contacts please 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Multifocal Lens Implant & Cataract Story

I needed cataract surgery and I never needed glasses until I turned 40. Then I began using the “cheaters” to read.  I found my glasses a complete nuisance so when I needed surgery, I chose the Multifocal lenses to be placed in my eyes because this was a once-in-a-lifetime surgery and I was told that I would be less dependent on the glasses.  After using glasses for reading of course my eyes kept on getting worse and I needed to get stronger ones every year.  With the multifocal lenses in my eyes, I can see far and near.  I can even read the fine print on the medicine bottles!  If you need surgery or want to improve your eyesight, why not get the best?  You deserve it!  The surgery was a breeze, no complications and no regrets.

Joan 

Can Vitamins & Antioxidants Reduce Cataract Risk

Patients always ask if there is any way to help reduce their risk of eye diseases and problems such as cataracts. It may be possible that there is an association between your risk of cataracts and your intake of certain vitamins and antioxidants according to researchers reporting their results in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Until now, studies have been inconsistent regarding the association between blood antioxidants or vitamins and risk of age-related cataract. By performing a meta analysis of 13 different studies researchers found the  lower the  level of vitamin E, α-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, the  greater the  risk of age-related cataract in Asian populations but not in Western populations, whereas β-Carotene, lycopene, and β-cryptoxanthin  had no significant association with risk of cataract. While these results look somewhat interesting, the question remains whether increasing intake through dietary supplements actually have any role in decreasing the risk of cataract formation.

If you or someone you know is concerned about glaucoma risk or has any family history of glaucoma 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts areas. 

Diabetic Eye Problem Injections

Diabetic Macular Edema is a common cause of vision loss in diabetics suffering from the effects of diabetic retinopathy. Today, we are fortunate to have a number of vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGF) drugs for injection-such as Lucentis®, Eyelea® and Avastin®-that are helpful to treat and reverse the effects of diabetic macular edema. Diabetic eye problems such as diabetic macular edema typically respond well to therapeutic injection of vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGF) injections. However, it is important to understand the frequency and duration of treatment may be somewhat variable to get the best vision results.

Researchers reporting in the British Journal of Ophthalmology shared helpful information about the importance of the VEGF inhibitor injection frequency in the treatment of diabetic macular edema.  The study confirmed that patients need to be patient as their ophthalmologists and retina specialists plan and schedule their examinations, testing and visits as sometime the best results can only be achieved multiple injections over some period of time. In general good long term results are achieved by about 4 months of injection treatment, but 20% of patients with persistent Diabetic Macular Edema at 12 months achieved a dry macula with considerable restoration of vision with sustained treatment through 24 months suggesting that persistent Diabetic Macular Edema at 4-12 months should not be used as a stopping criterion for treatment.

If you or someone you know is concerned about diabetic eye problems such as diabetic macular edema or other forms of diabetic retinopathy, 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'AmbrosioEye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Understanding BOTOX® May Help with Type 2 Diabetes

Understanding how BOTOX® works may help us diagnose and treated Type 2 Diabetes? What do BOTOX® and Type 2 Diabetes have to do with each other you ask?  A new study reports that it appears a better understanding of the proteins affected by injections of the wrinkle relaxer BOTOX® could help scientists develop new ways to treat Type 2 Diabetes. BOTOX® Cosmetic is best known as an injection for helping patient smooth fine lines and wrinkles in order to look their best. BOTOX® is also used as treatment for a number of medical conditions including migraine, urinary incontinence, profuse sweating and crossed eyes, among others. In each of these cases, BOTOX® works because it has a paralyzing effect: that is, it relaxes specific muscles, which then provides the desired effect. BOTOX® accomplishes this effect by blocking certain proteins called SNARE (Soluble NSF Attachment Protein Receptor) proteins. It turns out that SNARE proteins in the beta cells of the pancreas help the pancreas secrete insulin, thus blocking these proteins in the pancreas could lead to insulin resistance which is the hallmark of Type 2 Diabetes. Understanding this mechanism will hopefully provide researchers with new ways to diagnose and treat Type 2 Diabetes in the future.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about BOTOX® or diabetes, 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Lower AMD Risk by Eating Fish

You may be able to lower your risk of age related macular degeneration(AMD) by adding certain types of fish to your diet. Recently, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that the age related maculardegeneration may be associated with a high dietary fat intake. The results of their study found that eating fish, such as tuna, four times a week, may reduce the risk of macular degeneration. The subjects of the study were participants in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who did not have AMD at when the study commenced. After 12 years of follow-up, 567 people with a visual loss of 20/30 or worse were identified. Fat intake was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. The study found:

·         Those patients whose total dietary fat intake was in the highest quintile had over one and a half times the risk of AMD as those whose fat intake was in the lowest quintile,

·         Linolenic acid consumption was directly associated with the risk of AMD,

·         High intake of docosahexaenoic acid was associated with a modest reduction in the risk of AMD.

·         Those who ate four or more servings of fish a week were at a 35% lower risk of AMD when compared to those who ate fewer than three servings of fish a week.

The researchers concluded that dietary fat intake was associated with an increased risk of age related macular degeneration (AMD) and that this may have been due to the presence of Linolenic acid in the fat. They added that a high intake of fish, a rich source of docosahexaenoic acid, may reduce this risk.

If you or someone you know has a family history of age related maculardegeneration or wishes to learn more about reducing their risk of AMD by a low fat diet or eating fish, 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan if necessary.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Boston Parents Paper Selects Us Tops for Family Eye Care!

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is pleased to announce that they have been selected by Boston Parents Paper as a Top 5 Family Eye Care Practice for 2014. Each year Boston Parents Paper Family Favorite Awards asks readers to participate in selecting the "Best of the Best" in and around Boston. Boston Parents Paper readers include parents, grandparents, guardians and caregivers who are always seeking the best care for their children. By voting in the Family Favorite Awards they help others around Boston choose the "Best of the Best" for their families.

"We are thrilled to be recognized by the parents, family and friends of our patients. Our eye doctors and staff really work to embrace a practice personality that is based on D’Ambrosio Eye Care being a “family” practice. My father began providing greater Boston patients eye care and eye surgery more than 50 years ago and I have continued that presence throughout Boston, central and western Massachusetts for the past 30 years. Each and every doctor and staff member feels both the obligation and the responsibility of taking care of patients as if they are a part of “our family,” commented Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr., M.D. “We thank our patients, the Boston Parents Paper and their readers for acknowledging the eye care we provide and the “family” approach to delivering it-with compassion, trust and competence,” remarked Dr. D’Ambrosio Jr.

To learn more about D’Ambrosio Eye Care you may visit www.dambrosioeyecare.com or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central and western Massachusetts.

LASIK Patient Story of Interest

I do competitive dressage and before my surgery wearing glasses, they were always slipping down. It was very annoying, but it also sometimes hurt my nose (to have plastic rimmed glasses bouncing on my nose) and it could damage my score at show if I tried to reach up and adjust them while riding.

I was very nervous when I first arrived to have my surgery, I didn’t  know what to expect pain wise, I know everyone kept saying that it won’t hurt, but really who ever believes them!  When I met with Dr. D’Ambrosio, Jr. he was very reassuring and I calmed down some.  I was still very nervous despite the Valium I was given, I worked myself up so much my stomach hurt!  But they said it would only take 5 minutes start to finish once the doctor came in, and when he did start it felt like it went much more quickly!  And, they were right, I didn’t feel anything, and I was being silly for being so nervous!

I felt great after the surgery!  I could see, although it was like looking through water because of all the drops they put in.  I had heard that my eyes would feel gritty, but I didn’t experience that.  They were a little sore right after the surgery, but it was the kind of sore you feel when you’re very tired, it wasn’t bad at all.  A few hours after the surgery, I was taking fake tears for dryness every hour and when it was getting close for the next drop, that’s when it would feel like I had an eyelash in my eye, but as soon as I put the drops in they felt fine.  Other than that, the only other sensation was my eyes felt tired, not sore any more, but just tired, like I didn’t want to focus any more.   Just shut my eyes and take a nap! I think I was more nervous that I would forget my drops or rub my eyes by accident after the surgery than anything else.

The list of things that are better after the surgery is huge!  I think at the top is my horseback riding, I rode 2 days after the surgery and it was great! No glasses falling down, no contacts getting dust in them!  Some of the other activities I found miraculous were watching TV in bed at night and being able to fall asleep without worrying about taking off my glasses and waking up in the morning and being able to see my alarm (well enough to turn it off!!).   My husband also just took me out to a movie and we sat in the back row! I could see everything just fine. J

Overall, I’m thrilled with my new eyes!  I can’t wait to showcase them with some new makeup!  Olivia was wonderful about answering all my questions and following up with me after the surgery to make sure everything was on track.  D’Ambrosio Eye Care was great, I recommend them to anyone thinking of having LASIK; they genuinely care about their patients’ sight and well-being!  I’m so glad my friend recommended them to me!

Jennifer H

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about LASIK or schedule a Free LASIK Consultation please call us at 800-325-3937, visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

UV Light and Protecting Children

Wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes from harmful UV rays is as important as wearing sunscreen; and this habit should start as early as infancy.  80% of the UV rays absorbed during a lifetime are absorbed before the age 18.  Harmful UV rays can contribute to the development of age-related cataracts, pterygium, photo dermatitis and cancer around the eye as well as age related macular degeneration.

Sand, snow, concrete and water reflect sunlight, intensifying exposure.  Parents should advise and reinforce the importance of sun protection by teaching children to always take protective measures while outdoors.  Children should wear sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, stay in shaded areas and minimize exposure between 10am and 4pm.

If your child wears prescription eyeglass all day they are most likely wearing a polycarbonate or Trivex® material which protects their eyes from harmful UV rays, but if your child does not need corrective lenses, they should still wear protective sunglasses while outdoors.  It is recommended that all children, including infants, wear protective sunglasses while outdoors.  Sunglasses that block 99%-100% of UV rays. Be wary of non-specific labels like ‘blocks harmful UV’ vs. ‘blocks 99%-100% of UV’.  Not all lenses will block the recommended amount of UV.  Children should also always wear polycarbonate or Trivex® lens material as it is impact resistant.

If you or someone you know has questions about UV eye protection for children, 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

Laser Treatment for Pinguecula

Laser treatment for Pinguecula may be an option where other types of treatment have not been satisfactory according to researchers reporting in the journal Cornea..A Pinguecula is a common, non-cancerous growth of the clear, thin tissue covering the eye called the conjunctiva. The growth is raised slightly from the surface of the white part of the eye called sclera. While the exact cause is unknown long-term sunlight exposure and eye irritation may be factors. Welding is a major job-related risk.

Usually no treatment is needed however keeping the eye moist with artificial tears may help prevent the area from becoming inflamed. Sometimes the temporary use of mild steroid eye drops can also be helpful. Occasionally the growth may need to be removed for comfort or for cosmetic reasons especially if it grows over the cornea and impairs vision. When this happens, the growth is called a pterygium.

The researchers reporting in the journal Cornea evaluated 15 eyes in 21 patients and treated their Pinguecula with laser treatment using argon laser photocoagulation. The overall cosmetic results were excellent or good in 90.5% of laser-treated cases and the laser treated cases had minimal scarring or hemorrhage. They concluded that argon laser photocoagulation is an effective and safe method for removing a Pinguecula for cosmetic purposes and the laser method facilitates control of the extent and depth of removal and thus minimizes conjunctival defects and other complications.

If you or someone you know is concerned about Pinguecula and would like to learn more about laser treatment for Pinguecula, 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Childrens’ Eyeglasses & Eyewear Sale at D’Ambrosio Eye Care

As parents are getting their children ready for the “Back to School” season, D’Ambrosio Eye care is pleased to offer a great sale on children’s eyewear and eyeglasses through September 30, 2014.

Choose ANY Frame and get Single Vision Polycarbonate Lenses with Non Glare FREE!

Or

Choose ANY Lens and Get 25% off the Complete Pair of Eyeglasses!

To schedule an eye exam or eyeglass selection and fitting, please call D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help schedule an appointment.

What Patients Understand About Diabetic Retinopathy

We are concerned that patients with diabetes really don’t understand as much as they should about their eyes and diabetic retinopathy. A recent study exploring patients’ understanding of the risk factors, cause and controllability of their own diabetic retinopathy revealed considerable misunderstanding, gaps in knowledge and potentially damaging beliefs about the cause and treatment of diabeticretinopathy.

Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 57 patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), nearly half of whom had severe proliferative DR-a serious complication. Most of these patients had also undergone laser treatment. At the conclusion of the study, patients were found to have had a reasonable understanding of the basic risk factors for DR, such as diabetes control, but they were less clear about specific risk factors such as blood pressure and lipid control.

Most patients attributed their DR either to poor diabetes control or to failings of the health care system, rather than having a basic understanding of the small blood vessel disease including circulatory and oxygen deprivation that results from the damaged blood vessels in the retina. Some patients believed that their DR was a result of health aspects beyond their control or environmental factors, whereas others were unsure about the cause. Improving patients' understanding of the major risk factors for DR as well as helping them have a better understanding of the causes of diabetic retinopathy and being able to grasp expectations of realistic outcomes of laser treatment may improve patients' coping mechanisms, adaption to disease and ocular outcomes.

If you or someone you know is concerned about diabetic retinopathy, 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area.

Kids Need School Eye Exams in Central & Western Massachusetts

Childrens’ vision and eye exams are an important item on the back to school “readiness” checklist and D’Ambrosio Eye Care recommends that kids have an eye exam to start the school year right! While most parents can easily observe that children today operate in a very intense and demanding visual environment as they read, write, play sports, use computers and tablets-but the eye doctors at D’Ambrosio Eye Care want to be sure to remind parents that children use their eyes and vision as critical tools in the learning process.  

The most frequent eye problems we find in school age kids are the common vision problems of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Sometimes, not having clear vision in the classroom can lead to the undeserved perception of a behavioral problem or attention problem. What we know is that kids are often unable to verbalize that they have a vision problem as they just don’t recognize it. The earlier a vision problem is detected and treated, the more likely treatment will be successful.

If you or someone you know needs a Back to School eye exam for children please come in and see us at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help schedule an appointment.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts. 

Cataracts Affect More than Just Vision

“When patients think about how cataracts affect them they typically relate their symptoms to complaints like blurry vision, cloudy vision, glare, difficulty night driving and other vision symptoms,” shared Francis D’Ambrosio Jr., M.D. “But, what we consider for each and every patient with cataracts is that poor vision in seniors is often associated with premature or accelerated mental decline. Further, the challenges reduced vision creates in terms of mobility and safety can also put patients at increased risk for orthopedic injury-especially hip fracture. So, helping seniors restore vision with cataract surgery and lens implants has an important place in securing senior health, well being, mobility, safety and mental state,” Dr. D’Ambrosio explained.

August is noted as Cataract Awareness Month. Today there are some 20 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts and more than half of all Americans over 65 have some degree of cataract development. In fact cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss among seniors.

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens of the eye preventing light rays from passing through it easily. This results in a clouding and blurring of vision. Cataracts are not a growth or a film over the eye. Initially, a cataract may start out slowly and have little effect on vision. Over time as the cataract becomes denser, so does its effect on vision.

Symptoms of Cataracts

The most common symptoms that bother patients with cataracts can include blurring of vision, sensitivity to light and glare, double vision in one eye, poor night vision, fading or yellowing of colors and frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions.

When cataracts begin to interfere with daily activities or with your comfort, mobility and safety, they can be treated surgically. Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most frequently performed surgeries in the United States. Today, we have a full range of lens implants available that allow us to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and even near vision focusing problems after cataract surgery, as well as distance vision, without requiring bifocals or reading glasses for the vast majority of patients.

If you or someone you know has questions about cataracts, cataract surgery, laser cataract surgery or lens implants please 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts.

Multifocal Lens Implants: The Patient View

Through the years, my vision was gradually getting worse. Cataracts were beginning to affect my quality of life. I chose to have the multifocal lens implants to treat cataracts in both eyes.

Now, I can see things near, far, and everything in between. I no longer need those reading glasses!  I haven’t seen this well in years. This was the best thing I could have done. I’d recommend this course of treatment to anyone looking to break free from the hassle of glasses. The service that I received at D’Ambrosio Eye Care was exceptional!

Bob G.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Dry Eye Common after Cataract Surgery

Developing a dry eye after cataract surgery is actually pretty common. Moreover, the incidence of mild to moderate dry eye in a cataract aged population prior to cataract surgery-and exacerbated by cataract surgery makes dry eye a rather common complaint among this group. Patients of cataract age and having cataract surgery should know a little bit about dry eye as this is a somewhat temporary condition they may encounter. Fortunately, dry eye after cataract surgery are a number of helpful solutions.

Dry Eye Incidence

According to the Prospective Health Assessment of Cataract Patients Ocular Surface (PHACO) Study some 60-75% of a cataract aged population has a meaningful deficiency in their tear film testing. Further, although cataract surgery is quite friendly to the cornea, it does require an incision which has the potential to temporarily interrupt corneal nerves responsible for reflex tearing and tear film integrity as well. This along with some of the solutions used during the cataract procedure can indeed result in a dry eye.

Dry Eye Symptoms

The symptoms one might experience could include fluctuations of vision, dryness, grittiness, tearing, burning and a general tiredness as well as an overall sandy feeling. The good news is that for the vast majority of patients with dry eye there are potentially helpful treatment options that include specialized artificial tear lubricants and solutions, tiny punctal plugs to help you retain tears and prescription medication that stimulates production of your own tears. In addition there are more technological approaches such as lasers and other methods to treating underlying blepharitis, eyelid gland problems or eyelid inflammation that can contribute to dry eye as well.

If you or someone you know is concerned about dry eye after cataract surgery or wishes to learn more about cataracts, cataract surgery and lens implants, 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Laser Cataract Surgery for Massachusetts Patients

Cataract surgeons at D’Ambrosio Eye Care will now be using the CATALYS® Precision Laser System to perform laser cataract surgery and lens implants for patients from throughout central and western Massachusetts. This is the 30th anniversary of our practice and in fact I have been performing cataract surgery for over 30 years. During these years I have been actively involved in the clinical research to develop new advanced lens implants as well as to help refine techniques of modern cataract surgery. 

Incorporating advances in eye surgery into our practice and bringing them to western and central Massachusetts is just part of the DNA of our practice. Even after the years of experience and teaching of cataract surgery techniques, I am amazed at how the laser for cataract surgery gives me the ability to deliver a more precise, reproducible and gentler cataract surgery for my patients. The laser gives me exquisite control over the very complex steps of making a microscopic incision, creating a perfectly centered opening in the crystalline lens to remove the cloudy cataract and even softening  the lens material-all of which makes more consistent and gentler while adding accuracy when I am inserting and positioning the lens implant. This is really helpful for optical performance and vision correction for patients,” explained Dr. D’Ambrosio Jr. Throughout my career in eye surgery I have always tried to exemplify the philosophy of “see one-do one-teach one”, so I am looking forward to teaching other cataract surgeons at our eye surgery center in Gardner and from throughout western and central Massachusetts this technique of laser cataract surge.

Genetic Testing for Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Genetic test for age related macular degeneration (AMD) has gotten a great deal of attention in the recent past. While the presence of specific genes may indicate a increased risk for age related macular degeneration (AMD), according to researchers commenting in the Ophthalmology routine genetic testing to predict the development of age related macular degeneration (AMD) does not really predict how a person would respond to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Inhibitor injections and thus the genetic testing is not recommended. Further, the downside of routine genetic testing at present is that it can cause unnecessary anxiety, it can leave patients with promises that are not fulfilled and it may impact insurability and employability.

If you or someone you know is concerned about age related macular degeneration (AMD) risk or has any family history of AMD they are encouraged to schedule regular eye examinations 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street,Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area.

Join Us on June 22 for Family FUN-Day!

CRP Proteins Indicate Risk of Macular Degeneration

We are always looking for ways to predict the risk that patients have of various eye diseases. We now know that the risk of age related macular degeneration (AMD) is correlated with the findings of the CRP (c-reactive proteins) test in men and women according to researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston who reported in JAMA Ophthalmology.

The findings of this study showed that there was a significantly increased risk of AMD for those patients with high versus low CRP levels and those with high CRP levels also had a significantly increased risk of neovascular or Wet AMD-a potential cause of catastrophic vision loss. The researchers concluded that elevated levels of CRP predict greater future risk of AMD. It is believed that this information might shed light on underlying mechanisms and could be of clinical help in the identification of persons at high risk of AMD who may benefit from increased adherence to lifestyle recommendations, eye examination schedules and therapeutic protocols.

If you or someone you know is concerned about age related macular degeneration (AMD) risk or has any family history of AMD they are encouraged to schedule regular eye examinations 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440. 

Cataract Surgery: Best Results when Both Eyes Done

The best results from cataract surgery are generally achieved when both eyes have cataract surgery. It is also important to know that having cataract surgery in one eye is likely to improve vision and visual functioning, however the most significant improvements are found in patients who undergo second eye cataract surgery. Francis D’Ambrosio Jr., M.D. commented, “Having a cataract in one or both eyes often causes blurry, cloudy or dimming of vision but more importantly it can cause a real decrease in overall visual functioning that impacts daily activities and lifestyle-especially mobility and navigating safely.” In general it is well known that the presence of a cataract negatively affects both subjective quality of life and objective performance measures.

Researchers reporting in the journal Ophthalmology studied the impact that cataract and cataract surgery have on clinical measurements of vision, reading speed, objective mobility performance and subjective visual functioning. In this study, 29 participants had cataract surgery on both eyes, 90 participants had cataract surgery in one eye and 1620 participants had no cataract surgery. The results showed that patients who had the cataract surgery in both eyes demonstrated better visual performance, better mobility-based task performance and even scored better on the Activities of Daily Vision Scale (ADVS). Thus, even though patients might find a great improvement after having cataract surgery in only one eye, the data indicate that having cataract surgery on both eyes provides the best visual functioning.

If you or someone you know is concerned cataracts or has questions about cataracts, cataract surgery and lens implants 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

Transitions® Vantage™ Lenses

Transitions® brand lenses have been leading the industry for years with their photochromic lenses, changing from clear indoors to dark grey or brown tint outdoors. Many patients find it cost-effective to try and get as many of the needed features in one pair of glasses vs. having multiple pair.  Transitions® lenses offer a dark tint outdoors but they are not polarized, so you may not have to squint when you go outside but you are not eliminating blinding glare.  Glare that prohibits you from seeing true colors, fish underwater, and the glare that reflects off other objects, creating blind spots in vision.  A newer addition to the Transitions® family, Transitions® Vantage™, resolves that issue. These lenses are virtually clear indoors and not polarized, so you can still see your computer screens and cell phones clearly but when you go outdoors as the lenses darken they also become polarized. This is very exciting technology for the wearer that wants to get the most out of their primary pair of glasses.

Here at D’Ambrosio Eye Care we still find it important that everyone have at least one pair of everyday glasses but also a pair of polarized safety driving glasses.  Polarized lenses can protect you as you drive by eliminating the dangerous blinding glare while enhancing the contrast between objects, making them easier to see more quickly.Transitions® Vantage™ does not change behind the windshield of a car as it needs UV light to darken.  A good alternative is to purchase a polarized clip to use while driving or a separate pair of sunglasses.

Patients Cautioned to Use Proper UV Eye Protection

Especially as we enter the spring and summer months in New England, D’Ambrosio Eye Care wishes to highlight Ultraviolet (UV) Eye Protection Awareness Month by providing some useful tips for UV eye protection.

Common sense ways to protect yourself from the potential eye injury and damage from UV include:

• Always wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses without UV protection may shade the eyes but actually cause the pupils to dilate, allowing in even more harmful rays.

• Wear a brimmed hat along with sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.

• Choose wrap-around sunglasses to protect the eyes and the skin around the eyes.

• Be aware that although some contact lenses may offer UV protection, they cannot protect the entire eye and the skin around it.

• Choose sunglasses made of unbreakable polycarbonate, especially for children and for those who lead active lifestyles.

• Be sure to ask your family doctor or internist about the photosensitizing side effects of any medications that you might take.

• Always wear eye protection when using a tanning bed. According the American Academy of Ophthalmology, tanning beds can produce UV levels up to 100 times more than the sun, which can cause serious damage to the external and internal structures of the eye and eyelids.

At D’Ambrosio Eye Care we offer a wide range of UV protecting eyeglass lenses as well as sunglass lenses. Eye protection from UV needs to be complete but doesn’t have to be overly expensive. High quality sunglasses should block out 99-100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. It is also important to have UV protection in everyday eyewear, which is readily available with a number of UV blocking eyeglass lens materials, specialized coatings and photochromic lenses.

Patients visiting us can speak with our staff who will be able to provide the proper counseling and fitting of UV protecting lenses and eyewear. These eye care professionals can offer a wide variety of UV blocking lenses, coatings and color changing lenses to keep you safe.

If you or someone you know has a question or concerns about ultraviolet (UV) eye damage and injury and how to select protective eyewear please feel free to contact 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street,Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area.

Critical Retina Exam before Cataract Surgery

Cataract Surgeon Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr. M.D. advised patients with cataracts and thinking about cataract surgery and lens implants to have a thorough and critical retinal exam in order to carefully correlate the degree of vision loss with the density and position of the cataract. “When our cataract patients tell us about a decrease in vision, we carefully try to correlate their visual symptoms and visual acuity to the degree of cataract present so we can help counsel them on their likely benefit,” said Dr. D’Ambrosio Jr. “As we deal with an aging population-a cataract population- a careful examination of the retina can reveal underlying pathology such as epiretinal membranes, retinal wrinkling or macular pucker with edema that may impact the results of the cataract surgery-we want to know this up front and advise patients”, he explained.

Current research studies report a prevalence of epiretinal membranes in 7% of patients older than 60 years and in 20% of patients aged 75 years or more-the prime demographic for cataract surgery. Therefore, before you have cataract surgery expect to have whatever level of examination and testing your cataract surgeon requests in order to help you get the best results.

If you or someone you know is concerned about cataracts and thinking about cataract surgery and les implants you 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area. 

iPad, Kindle & Nook May Help Glaucoma Patients

The vision loss from glaucoma can create difficulties for patients when it comes to reading. Adults with glaucoma read slower when reading silently for long periods of time and are more likely to have their reading speed decrease over time, possibly as a result of reading fatigue. The common technology of e-readers may offer some help in that patients with glaucoma may benefit from using e-readers such as iPads, Nooks and Kindle devices according to a recent study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. Fortunately, these studies suggest that iPads, Nooks and Kindle devices along with the apps that are developed for them may very well help glaucoma patients read more comfortably, over longer periods of time and with better overall ease.

If you or someone you know is concerned about vision loss from glaucoma and wishes to learn how e-readers like the iPad, Nook and Kindle might help 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 recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts.

Freedom after Lens Implant Surgery

I needed glasses mostly for reading.  I had a pair in every room in the house, in the car and at the office.  The worst part was forgetting glasses when I went shopping or to a restaurant.  I was totally non-functional without glasses. 

I felt fine before the surgery - not nervous at all. I was very excited about having my eyesight corrected. During the surgery, I felt totally comfortable.   I did not feel a thing and even chatted with everyone in the O.R. during the procedure!  Everyone at the surgical center in Gardner was wonderful. 

After the surgery I felt just a little strange for the first few hours that I needed to leave the band aid on my “surgery” eye.  Seeing double made me a little nauseous for the few hours after the band aid came off.  I just napped for a few hours and everything was fine after that.  I was able to read without glasses for the first time that same night!

Mostly my work has been affected because I had prescription glasses for my computer work and prescription glasses for regular reading.  I do a lot of both throughout my work day so it was frustrating before surgery.  Not anymore!!!  FREEDOM!  I can’t wait to see if it improves my golf game in the spring!!! 

The staff, at both Dr. D’Ambrosio’s office and the surgical center, was the best.  Total professionalism, compassion and understanding in all of the prep appointments, the day of surgery and my post op visits.  I would highly recommend every single person that I encountered throughout this procedure!

Catherine F. 

Use Proper Sports Eye Protection to Prevent Injury

D’Ambrosio Eye Care reminded patients of the need to use proper sports eye protection to prevent a range of potential eye injuries. Aprilis Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month and the American Academy of Ophthalmology asks eye doctors to remind our community that 40,000 people suffer from eye injuries related to sports every year.

“Sometimes athletes overlook the potential risks that so many sports create for eye injuries. These can be of a wide range of eye problems including abrasions of the cornea, bruises of the eyelids, retinal detachments and internal bleeding,” said Rachel Robbins, M.D., a Massachusetts Ophthalmologist. “Unfortunately some of the most serious risks involve permanent vision loss along with infection and can be catastrophic to not only vision, but to everyday functioning-lifelong,” she further explained.

What patients need to know is that 90 percent of serious eye injuries are preventable through use of appropriate protective eyewear. Make sure the level of eye protection you or others in your family use is appropriate for the type of activity. Regular eyeglasses do not offer proper eye protection. Athletes need to wear appropriate, sport-specific protective eyewear properly fitted by an eye care professional. Lenses made from polycarbonate materials provide the highest level of impact protection; they can withstand a ball or other projectile traveling at 90 miles per hour.

If you or someone you know has questions or would like help in selecting, fitting or choosing sports protective eyeglasses, please schedule an eye examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio EyeCare or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with office locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street,Gardner, Massachusetts 01440 that serve the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area.