Minimize Hockey Eye Injury with Visors

In greater Boston and really throughout New England hockey is a popular “observer” sport, but is even more popular to play especially among middle school, high school and college athletes. Eye injury is a serious risk among hockey players but the risk can be minimized with parents and players taking some precautions based on research presented at an Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The researchers found that wearing visors could cause a four-fold decrease in the risk of eye injuries. The researchers, based at the University of Toronto and Harvard Medical School, examined data from The Sports Network (TSN) and The Hockey News annual visor survey over the last 10 seasons from 2002 to 2013 in the NHL. The data clearly demonstrated that the risk of eye injury is 4.23 times higher for players who do not wear a visor. The study also found that the majority of eye injuries are caused by being hit by the puck (37%) or struck by a high stick (28%) or by a fight or scrum (18%), while the researchers could not identify the cause of injury for 17%.

Players without visors had a more aggressive style of play, measured by penalty minutes, hits and fights in a case-control study. There was also a weak, but positive correlation between eye injuries and penalty minutes. As hockey players develop, grow and get stronger their games and playing style become faster and more intense, and the risks continue to increase-thus it is important to maximize protection. Since the majority of hockey injuries are accidental in nature, it is not good enough for players to try to be more cautious. This study pretty firmly supports the common sense notion that wearing visors goes a long way to decreasing injuries among hockey players.

If you or someone you know plays hockey please share this information with them to help them decrease their risk of hockey eye injury, or please feel free to 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.

Dry Eye Help with Diet Supplements

Dry eye problems are some of the most common patient complaints we hear at D’Ambrosio Eye Care. We are fortunate to be able to offer help for dry eyes that includes tiny punctual plugs, artificial tears and lubricants, prescription eye drops called Restasis and specially formulated diet supplements and vitamins.

Diet Supplements & Dry Eye Help
According to researchers reporting in Clinical Ophthalmology taking dietary supplements that contain a combination of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants can be helpful in the treatment of dry eye symptoms. A study was conducted to understand the effectiveness and tolerability of dietary supplements containing a combination of omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants for help for dry eye symptoms and complaints. The researchers wanted to know if the dry eye diet supplements helped scratchy and stinging sensation in the eyes, eye redness, grittiness, painful eyes, tired eyes, grating sensation, and blurry vision. After 12 weeks of taking the supplements all individual symptoms improved significantly from an average rating of 11.9 to 6.8 indicating that dietary supplementation with a combination of omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants was an effective treatment for dry eye.

If you or someone you know has questions or needs help with dry eye problems or symptoms, please 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.

Cataract Risk from High Dose Vitamins

Do you take vitamins on a regular basis? Do you take and that are in high doses because you believe they can help you prevent certain systemic and even eye diseases? Did you ever consider whether vitamins are good or bad for affecting your risk of developing cataracts?
 

Cataract Risk & High Dose Vitamins
Researchers reporting in the American Journal of Epidemiology evaluated the risks and benefits of taking high dose supplements of vitamins C and E and low-dose multivitamins with the risk of developing age related cataract. Their study looked at any associations of high-dose supplements of vitamins C and E and low dose multivitamins with the risk of age related cataract in a group of 31,120 men who ranged in age from 45–79 years of age. Their results suggest that the use of high dose-but NOT low dose-single vitamin C or E supplements may increase the risk of age-related cataract. The risk may be even higher among older men, corticosteroid users, and long-term users.

If you or someone you know takes high doses of vitamins or is concerned about their risk of cataracts please 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.

Get Your Eyewear Loyalty Card!

When you purchase eyeglasses at D’Ambrosio Optical you will now get and Eyewear Loyalty Card. We have always offered 30% off your future purchases within 3 months, but now we want have changed things up! For every eligible item you purchase we award you 10% off, making it possible to now get 40% off your next purchase. 

Even more exciting is you may give your loyalty card to someone else for them to use. Maybe your spouse, child, sister or even your friend needs a new pair of glasses too! Your loyalty card does expire 3 months from your purchase date so don’t forget to come in and get that other pair you may be thinking about. It is a great opportunity to get polarized sunglasses, a computer/work pair, or a night on the town pair. Even better news is you will get another loyalty card!! This gift just keeps on giving!