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.