LASIK Instead of Contacts with Allergies

Alyssa F. wrote to us about her LASIK experience:

“For me, the worst part of wearing contacts or glasses was dealing with seasonal allergies. I was always rubbing my eyes and folding a contact or had to wear my glasses when usually I only wear them at night. I was a bit nervous before and during my LASIK treatment, but the nurses were very kind and talked me through the whole process. The recovery afterwards was quick - I took a nap and woke up feeling great after surgery, which shocked me! I could see perfectly within a day.

Getting LASIK was by far the best decision I have ever made. I have perfect vision and do not have to deal with the fuss of contacts or glasses!”

Alyssa F.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about LASIK or schedule a Free LASIK Consultation, contact us at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling 800-325-3937, visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care, Google+ or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care provides eye care for patients throughout greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts 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.

Early Cataracts & Cancer Risk

If you develop cataracts at an early age, it has been shown that there has been an association between the early onset of cataracts-in patients under 55 years old and the potential risk for developing cancer. This is thought to be due to the fact that early onset cataract is linked to insufficient antioxidative activity in one’s metabolism-which is also a known factor for increasing the risk of cancer. 

Researchers reporting the journal Cancer Science, the official journal of the Japanese Cancer Association investigated the risk of cancer after being diagnosed with early onset cataract. The researchers examined claims from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of patients with early onset cataract, aged 20-55 and also compared it to a group of the same age range without cataracts. By using powerful statistical analysis they found that the overall incidence rate of all cancers was 2.19-fold higher in the early onset cataract group as compared to those without cataracts.  Further they were able to analyze where these patients were at greatest risk of developing cancer and found head and neck areas highest, followed by liver cancer and then breast cancer. This study suggests that patients with early onset cataract are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with cancer in subsequent years.

If you or someone you know is concerned about early cataract development or needs a regular eye exam where do a routine cataract screening and exam, please share this information with them and ask them to call D’Ambrosio Eye Care us at 800-325-3937, visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care, Google+ or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care provides eye care for patients throughout greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts 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.

Vision Problems & ADHD

Many children are diagnosed and treated for ADHD and parents always wonder if perhaps eye and vision problems may in part contribute to or be responsible or even associated with ADHD. Researchers studied whether there was any association between ADHD/ADD, uncorrected refractive-errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism-and visual acuity. Their study and results were reported in the journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (AAPOS) They performed a case matched controlled study that included children with a confirmed diagnosis of ADD/ADHD and a control group of age  matched control children and then examined both groups including uncorrected visual acuity for distance and near, cycloplegic refraction-an eye test to measure uncorrected refractive error with eye drops, ocular motility or eye movement patterns, and binocular function. Their results showed that ADD/ADHD children had similar visual acuity at distance and near and refractive errors as normal subjects. Eye movement and the ability to use both eyes together as well as focusing ability were also found to be similar in both groups and thus might not contribute to ADD/ADHD.

If you or someone you know has ADHD and is concerned about any effects of vision problems, refractive errors or decreased visual acuity please visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care, Google+ or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care provides eye care for patients throughout greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts 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.

Importance of Children’s Vision

According to the Children’s Eye Foundation 1 in 20 children are at risk for permanent vision loss. That is about 1 child in every classroom that is at risk of vision loss from disorders like amblyopia and strabismus. The sooner treatment is started for these types of disorders the more successful treatment will be.

Our government mandates that all children have a vision screening 12 months prior to entry into kindergarten but a vision screening only alert parents to the possibility of vision problems and should not take the place of a comprehensive eye exam done by an eye doctor. According to the Children’s Eye Foundation even when a concern was revealed during a screening 40% of children did not have a follow up exam with an eye doctor.  80% of learning is visual which means a child’s ability to see properly is extremely important. Even during play your child should have the ability to see; playing is an important part of their development and seeing well also aids in their ability to avoid injury.

Common refractive errors are easily corrected with eyeglasses and/or contacts. At D’Ambrosio Eye Care we care about your child’s vision and our doctors and licensed opticians work together closely to protect and enhance their vision. We offer a wide selection of frames and lens options for every budget but we also offer our unique Parents Painless Growth Program designed with you in mind, please ask any of our optical staff for more information.

If you or someone you know is concerned about children’s vision and eye health, they are encouraged to schedule an eye examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care, 800-325-3937, visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care, Google+ or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care provides eye care for patients throughout greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts 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.

School Eye Exams for Kids

Eye exams for kids going back to school are an important part of back to school readiness that parents should include in their “Back to School Checklist”. Children use their eyes and vision as critical tools in their learning process.  Kids today operate in a very intense and demanding visual environment as they read, write, play sports, use computers and tablets and on and on…and it is easy to see why scheduling a Back to School eye exam is so important.

It is not uncommon for childrens’ vision to change during their school years and development. Regular eye exams can detect these changes or any eye problems that might hinder their overall well being and academic performance. 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. It is important to observe children for some common behaviors that might indicate an eye or vision problem. Watch for:

·  Frequent eye rubbing or blinking

·  Short attention span

·  Avoiding reading and other close activities

·  Frequent headaches

·  Covering one eye

·  Tilting the head to one eye

·  Holding reading materials close to the face

·  An eye turning in or out

·  Seeing double

·  Losing place when reading

·  Difficulty remembering what he or she read

Dr. Oren Weisberg
Pediatric Ophthalmologist

If your child exhibits any of these please bring it to our attention. Your child should receive an eye examination at least once every two years, more frequently if specific problems or risk factors exist, or if recommended by your eye doctor. The earlier a vision problem is detected and treated, the more likely treatment will be successful.

If you or someone you know would like to schedule a Back to School Eye Exam, they should call us at D’Ambrosio Eye Care, 800-325-3937, visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care, Google+ or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care provides eye care for patients throughout greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts 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.

Back to School Eyeglasses Benefit Dogs for NEADS

At D’Ambrosio Eye Care, Back to School Eyewear for Children means more than just good vision for kids!

This year we have partnered with NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services, also known as Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans) from Princeton Massachusetts. We are offering promotional single vision lens packages starting at $29 for children (and adults), including impact resistant polycarbonate lenses with non-glare, when purchased with a frame! When you purchase any of these promotional packages a portion of the proceeds goes directly to NEADS and your child gets to take home one of these adorable stuffed dog toys. What better way to start a new school year!

We are excited to be featuring an extremely flexible and durable new frame line from nano VISTA (www.nanovista.net/en), for ages 0 and up. nano frames are manufactured with the exclusive and patented SILIFLEX™ material, a unique thermo-adjustable material is 35% lighter than acetate frames and delivers a long lasting and durable finish. The frames from the nano collections stand out from the crowd due to maximum flexibility making them "Child-Proof". With their new patented exclusive hinge "S2"-FORGET ABOUT BREAKAGES!

Super cute and worth taking a look, they will be in our Lancaster location!

If you or someone you know has questions or needs help with Back to School eyeglasses, frames and lenses contact D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care, Google+ or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care provides eye care for patients throughout greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts 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.