Solar Eclipse Eye Safety

On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun, or a “solar eclipse”, which is one of nature’s most awe inspiring sights!

BEWARE OF THE RISK THAT VIEWING A SOLAR ECLIPSE CAN PRESENT IF YOU DO NOT TAKE THE NECESSARY EYE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

What is a Solar Eclipse?

On August 21, the moon will pass between the sun and the earth, actually blocking the sun either partially or completely depending on where you are viewing it from. This is a solar eclipse! The blocking of the sun will last for up to three hours from beginning to end depending on your viewing location. For this eclipse, the longest period when the moon completely blocks the sun from any given location along the path will be about two minutes and 40 seconds. The last time the contiguous U.S. saw a total eclipse was in 1979. This event turns day into night and makes the normally hidden solar corona-the sun’s outer atmosphere- visible! Bright stars and planets will become visible as well. This is one of nature’s most awesome sights. In our Worcester area, we will have a partial eclipse, about 64%. The start time is 1:26pm, the max eclipse is 2:45pm and the end of the eclipse is 3:59pm. This time changes depending on where in the U.S. you are located.

How Can You See It?
You never want to look directly at the sun without appropriate protection except during totality. Retinal burns, called “solar retinitis” or “solar retinopathy” can be produced by direct gazing at the sun. This rather serious problem is caused by the thermal effects of the visible and near infrared rays focused on the pigment structure behind the retina. We almost never see patients with solar retinopathy because the normal eye will tolerate only fleeting glances at the sun, but is fairly common during a solar eclipse!

However, there are many ways to safely view an eclipse of the sun including direct viewing, which requires some type of filtering device and indirect viewing where you project an image of the sun onto a screen.

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. To date four manufacturers have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products: Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FREE PAIR OF ECPLISE GLASSES PLEASE STOP BY D’AMBROSIO OPTICAL CENTER!

• Always inspect your solar filter glasses before you use them. If they are scratched or damaged please discard them. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter. Always supervise children using solar filters.
• Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses before looking up at the bright sun. After glancing at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun!
• Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device. Please do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses because the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eyes and potentially causing serious injury. Also, you should seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.

A solar eclipse is one of nature’s grandest spectacles. By following these simple rules, you can safely enjoy the view and be rewarded with memories to last a lifetime. For more information visit Eclipse or please call D’Ambrosio Eye Care 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, 865 Merriam Avenue, Suite 119, Leominster, Massachusetts 01453, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440.

Benjamin & His LASIK Story

“It’s not that I found the glasses bothersome; but it was a pain if you had to switch from sunglasses to regular especially if you forgot one of them.  It was a hindrance to me in the aspect that I am a lineman and work outside, no matter the weather, so they were constantly fogging up and covered in rain or whatever else. I was a little bit nervous before my surgery but calmed down when I was in the room. The surgery was not bad; the only uncomfortable part would have been the pressure on the eyes but other than that not bad at all. After the surgery I went home and relaxed for the day.  I was able to see right away without glasses - which was awesome. My eyes had some discomfort, but nothing that was unbearable. It’s awesome how I can just have a pair of sunglasses without having to remember to bring both pairs of glasses. Also, certain things at work were more of a challenge with glasses but now I don’t have that issue. I am able to play with the kids without worrying about breaking my glasses or anything. Overall, I am incredibly pleased with everything that I experienced at D'Ambrosio Eye Care.  I highly recommend everyone there. You all made the experience a pleasant and easy thing to have done. Lasik is awesome and I can’t believe it took me so long to have it performed!”-Benjamin A

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, 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.

What Do You See During Cataract Surgery?

We always like to take the time to carefully explain all of the things patients having cataract surgery and lens implants might experience during their visit to the surgery center and even during their cataract surgery procedure. In this way we are hopefully helping them relax and have an easy and comfortable experience as we correct their vision. For just about all of our patients having cataract surgery, they are awake and quite aware of what is going on in the operating room. Every once in a while a patient will be curious about what they will actually see during the cataract procedure since they are awake. As this can really vary greatly from patient to patient we were please to find the results of a study that can give patients some guidance of what they might experience.

Results

Patients having cataract surgery were asked to describe the quality of the visual experience as, pleasant, neutral or unpleasant. The group of 200 patients interviewed in the study included an almost even mix of men and woman around the age of 70 years old and as is to be expected, were a bit anxious before the surgery and were given an oral tablet to help them relax. They all reported seeing some gradation of colors including in descending order blue, red, pink, yellow, green, purple, turquoise, and orange with the most common color combination being red-blue light which was most likely from the operating microscope. Most-61% of the light and color experiences during surgery were reported to be pleasant, 38% were neutral and 1% found them transiently unpleasant. Overall the experience of light and colors seen during cataract surgery is mildly pleasant and in fact should reassure patients that the visual experience is actually somewhat calming and relaxing during surgery.

If you or some you know is concerned about having a cataract or needing cataract surgery and lens implants and worried about what they will see, please call 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, 865 Merriam Avenue, Suite 119, Leominster, Massachusetts 01453, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440.

Retinoblastoma Eye Cancer in Children

Retinoblastoma is a rare but potentially catastrophic eye cancer that is found in children during a routine eye exam. We encourage all parents or caregivers of children to be sure that at least their primary care doctor or pediatrician is performing a simple “red reflex” test especially under the age of two years to quickly identify children at risk. This is especially important in less affluent or lower socioeconomic areas as there are a noticeable disparity in outcomes for children with retinoblastoma who have limited access to routine pediatric care. Researchers from Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center report in a study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found that although virtually all the children in the study survived, Hispanic children and children who lived in disadvantaged areas were more likely to lose an eye due to late diagnosis. White children and children who live in areas with a higher socioeconomic status were more likely to have been diagnosed early enough that physicians could preserve their eye and vision.  The study found: 

·        At the time of diagnosis, the disease had spread beyond the eye in 33 percent of Hispanic children, compared with 20 percent of non-Hispanic children.

·        At diagnosis, disease had spread beyond the eye in 28 percent of children from high-poverty areas, compared with 20 percent of other children. Similar disparities were found in other measures of socio-economic status.

·        Three-quarters (74.5 percent) of Hispanic children had the diseased eye surgically removed, compared with two-thirds (67.5 percent) of non-Hispanic children and less than two thirds (63 percent) of non-Hispanic white children. Among non-Hispanic black and Asian children, 74 percent had their eye removed.

·        Three-quarters (76 percent) of children living in disadvantaged counties had their eye removed, compared to less than two-thirds (64 percent) who lived in advantaged counties.

As with many eye problems, conditions and diseases, retinoblastoma eye cancer can be best addressed with early detection, diagnosis and treatment. If you or some you know is concerned about a child being at risk for retinoblastoma or any children’s eye problem please call 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, 865 Merriam Avenue, Suite 119, Leominster, Massachusetts 01453, 100 Powder Mill Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440.

Time for Summer Sunwear!

It’s been summer since June 21^st. Do you have Sunwear yet? We offer so many options at our locations. We have Maui Jim, Ray Ban and Oakley along with several designer brand names. Besides safety from harmful UV a good pair of polarized sunglasses can enhance other activities or sports. Golf, bicycling, baseball, fishing and reading at the beach to name a few. Don’t head off to your summer vacation without the right pair of sunglasses, you don’t want to impulse buy while on vacation and overpay.

Visit D’Ambrosio Optical Center to learn more about summer sunwear, or visit us at D’Ambrosio Optical Center, Google+ or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so that we can help select fashionable, comfortable and durable eyeglasses and eyewear for your entire family. 

D'Ambrosio Optical Center provides personalized service fitting and selection of eyewear 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, 865 Merriam Avenue, Suite 119, Leominster, Massachusetts 01453, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331 and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440.