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Boston Specialist on Cataract Surgery Recovery

Boston Cataract Surgeon & Specialist Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr., M.D. shared information about patient expectations of cataract surgery recovery. “At D’Ambrosio Eye Care and The Cataract & Laser Center of Gardner we routinely perform cataract removal and lens implants using a very tiny incision, with no needles and usually only eye drops for anesthesia,” explained Dr. D’Ambrosio. “For the great majority of our patients the postoperative course is very comfortable and unremarkable. Typically, most patients dont require pain medications and at most have a slight foreign body feeling from the incision which usually clears in a few hours. The vision the next day can range from being excellent or at times a bit cloudy, depending on the amount of residual swelling in the cornea. Patients with mild cataracts generally have very little swelling. Very dense cataracts require more energy to remove, and this can produce more swelling in the cornea. This swelling usually clears quickly and most patients see quite well in a few days,” Dr. D’Ambrosio further explained. “Depending on the type of lens implant you have had there may be a little adaptation. For example, if you have had a near vision presbyopia correcting multifocal lens implant there may be re-learning of how to see far and near. Most patients adapt pretty quickly.”

If you or someone you know has questions about cataract, cataract surgery, lens implants or the recovery from any type of eye surgery please feel free to schedule an eye exam at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

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 (AMD) and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services.

DAmbrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice in Athol, Lancaster, Gardner and Acton that serves the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

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Boston Corneal Specialist on Herpes Eye Infections

Boston Corneal Specialist JoAnn C. Chang, M.D. commented on Herpes Simplex eye infections. “I like to educate patients with cornea infections about the seriousness of Herpes Simplex eye infections as this type of eye infection actually affects many more people each year than one might think,” stated Dr. Chang of D’Ambrosio Eye Care which serves greater Boston and central Massachusetts. “Ocular herpes or herpes of the eye is caused by the herpes simplex virus and is the most common causes of corneal blindness in the United States today. Up to 50% of people who have a single herpes simplex viral infection of the eye will experience a flare up or recurrence. The virus often leads to irreversible scarring of the cornea and possible the need for a corneal transplant.”

Ocular herpes may start as a painful sore on the eyelid or surface of the eye. If left untreated, it may multiply and begin to destroy epithelial cells and progress deeper into the cornea. If the ocular herpes penetrates the deeper layers of the cornea and causes a stromal keratitis it may cause corneal scarring-so prompt diagnosis and treatment of ocular herpes is important.

It is estimated that 400,000 people in the United States have had some type of ocular herpes, with more than 50,000 initial and recurring cases being diagnosed each year. Of these, it is believed that 25% are the more severe form of herpes stromal keratitis. The recurrence of herpes simplex eye infections is significant in that it appears to recur in about 10% of patients with one year, 23% of patients within two years and 63% of patients within 20 years of their initial infection. Sometimes a recurrence can be prompted by sunlight, stress, fevers or an unrelated eye injury. Quick diagnosis and treatment is the key to avoiding corneal scarring, vision loss and the possible need for a corneal transplant.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any signs or symptoms of corneal infection-especially if they have had any trauma to their eyes-please call D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937 and request an immediate appointment with Massachusetts Corneal Specialist JoAnn C. Chang, M.D.

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), refractive laser surgery such as LASIK for vision correction, 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.

DAmbrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

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Boston Glaucoma Specialist on Medical Marijuana

The idea that marijuana can be helpful in treating glaucoma dates to the 1970s. Studies conducted then showed that smoking marijuana lowered the IOP of people with glaucoma. As a result of this research, additional studies were conducted examining whether marijuana or its active ingredient, a compound known as THC, could be used to keep IOP lowered. This research was supported by the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health. The research found that when marijuana is smoked or when a form of its active ingredient is taken as a pill or by injection, it does lower IOP. However, it only lowers IOP for a short period of time-about three or four hours. This short period of time is a major drawback for the use of marijuana as a glaucoma treatment. Because glaucoma needs to be treated 24 hours a day, you would need to smoke marijuana six to eight times a day around the clock to receive the benefit of a consistently lowered IOP. Because of marijuanas mood-altering effect, smoking so much of it daily would leave you too impaired to drive, operate equipment or function at the peak of your mental ability.

The effect that marijuana has on your ability to function is not the only side effect from the drug, however. Marijuana cigarettes contain hundreds of compounds that damage the lungs. Research has shown that regular and frequent use of marijuana, particularly in high doses, can cause problems with short-term memory and concentration.

As scientists learn more about glaucoma, they have also come to understand that IOP is not the only factor that damages the optic nerve. Recent studies characterize glaucoma as a neurologic disease similar to Parkinsons or Alzheimers. And, there is increasing evidence that reduced flow of blood to the optic nerve may also cause damage in patients with glaucoma. Unfortunately, marijuana not only lowers IOP, but it lowers blood pressure throughout the body. As a result, it has the potential to lower the blood flow to the optic nerve, effectively canceling out the benefit of a lowered IOP.  So, while marijuana can temporarily lower your IOP, its not recommended for treating glaucoma. Prescription medications, laser and surgical treatments have been tested and proven as effective treatments for the glaucoma.

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Lens Implants for Cataracts in Boston

Boston eye care patients with cataracts will find that choosing a lens implant for cataract surgery is an important decision. “The decision on exactly how to correct your vision after cataract surgery used to be a decision that was the sole responsibility of your cataract surgeon,” said Francis A. DAmbrosio, Jr., M.D., Massachusetts Ophthalmologist and Medical Director of DAmbrosio Eye Care. “As more advanced types of lens implant technology became available that could do some extra things for patients, we were able to offer our cataract patients some options for their vision correction,” said Dr. DAmbrosio, Jr.

“While I had been participating in FDA trials of multifocal lens Implants for cataract surgery some years earlier, beginning around 2005 it became necessary for cataract surgeons to discuss lens implant options with patients so together they could choose the most appropriate lens implant for the lifestyle needs of the patient,” said Dr. DAmbrosio Jr. “ Only after the cataract evaluation can we make a firm recommendation for each patient because the choice of lens implant really depends on several factors including the patient’s prescription, the overall health of their eyes, whether they have any other health problems such as diabetes and most importantly how they use their eyes throughout their daily routine," he further noted.

A type of lens implant called an aspheric lens implant seems to give the sharpest, most crisp vision-but only corrects distance vision and requires you to wear reading glasses or bifocals after cataract surgery. This might be fine for a truck driver who needs cataract surgery, but might not be the best choice for a sales clerk who uses his or her eyes at many distances all day. A type of lens implant called a toric lens implant is often selected for cataract patients who have correction their eyeglasses. If you have a toric lens implant to correct your vision after cataract surgery, you will still need to correct you near vision to see up close with reading glasses of some sort. For those patients who do a number of things throughout the day that require seeing far away, at arm’s length-say for the computer and also to see up close, if you are a good candidate, we can offer you a multifocal lens implant that corrects near vision and presbyopia and so it will help you see at a range of distances without being totally dependent on eyeglasses.

Choosing a lens implant is a joint effort between you and your eye surgeon. It is not your decision alone. It’s not like buying a pair of shoes or a car where you can ask your friends for a good “brand” or you can read a brochure or see a TV commercial and then you can choose. It requires the careful evaluation and recommendation of skilled and experienced cataract surgeon to help you make the best choice.

DAmbrosio Eye Care is a leading eye care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, treatment of cataracts with 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.

If you or someone you know has cataracts and need help with cataract surgery and lens implants information, please feel free to call DAmbrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

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Boston Sports Require Eye Protection

“Adults and children in Boston are ready up for all kinds of outdoor sports this time of year-they need to consider the need for proper eye protection,” commented Massachusetts Ophthalmologist Francis DAmbrosio, Jr. M.D. of DAmbrosio Eye Care. Protecting your eyes playing sports is an important way to help preserve your eye health and vision sometimes gets overlooked. Tens of thousands of sports and recreation-related eye injuries occur each year. The good news is that 90 percent of serious eye injuries are preventable through use of appropriate protective eyewear. The risk of eye injury can vary depending on the activity. 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.

Across all age groups, sports-related eye injuries occur most frequently in baseball, basketball and racquet sports. Further, boxing and full-contact martial arts pose an extremely high risk of serious and even blinding eye injuries and there is really no satisfactory eye protection for boxing, although thumbless gloves may reduce the number of boxing eye injuries. When playing baseball, ice hockey and men’s lacrosse, a helmet with a polycarbonate lightweight shatterproof face mask or wire shield should be worn at all times. In general, hockey face masks be approved by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Last protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses should be worn for sports such as basketball, racquet sports, soccer and field hockey.

If you need additional information, or help regarding how to select the best eyewear to protect you while playing sports, please feel free to phone DAmbrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

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Boston Doctor for Fuchs’ Dystrophy

Fuchs’ Dystrophy is a slowly progressive disease of the cornea that is typically bilateral and is slightly more common in women than men. While it is possible to observe Fuchs’ Dystrophy in people in their 30’s and 40’s, it usually does not compromise vision until people are in their 50’s or 60’s. While a precise path of genetic transmission is unclear, a familial predisposition seems to exist among those who are first degree relatives. Early in the course of Fuchs Dystrophy patients typically awaken with blurry vision that gets progressively clearer as the day passes. This phenomenon occurs because the cornea normally swells during sleep. A healthy endothelial pump is necessary in order to restore the cornea to a normal thickness. In Fuchs’ Dystrophy, the endothelium removes fluid from the cornea less efficiently. As the Fuchs’ Dystrophy disease worsens, the vision does not clear. Usually we will attempt to help reduce the corneal swelling each day by prescribing hypertonic eye drops and ointments. However, when these measures fail to provide comfort and clear vision, it may be necessary to have a corneal transplant.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about Fuchs’ Corneal Dystrophy please schedule an appointment with Massachusetts Corneal Specialist JoAnn C. Chang, M.D. at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling us at 800-325-3937. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

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Boston Doctors for Bulging Eyes

Eye doctors throughout Boston are quite well aware that when patients speak about having bulging eyes they are using the familiar description of the eye conditions known as Exophthalmos or Proptosis. “While patients might think that it is only a matter of being a bit odd looking, bulging eye conditions can also cause a number of problems, such as not being able to completely close your eyes during sleep or even during normal blinking, which can lead to dry eye symptoms, discomfort and ultimately damage the eye’s surface as a result of scarring. Sometimes eye bulging can restrict or interfere with normal eye movements. We need to be able to properly diagnose the difference between eyes that are simply “prominent” as compared to eyes that actually “bulging”. In instances of true bulging eyes we need to carefully determine the cause so that we can offer an appropriate treatment as necessary. Causes of bulging eyes can include Graves Disease that results in hyperthyroidism and too much thyroid hormone, inflammation of the tissue around the eye and inside the bony orbit of the eye called cellulitis, certain tumors behind, inside or around the eye, hemorrhages behind the eye and injury to the eye. If you or someone you know suffers from bulging eyes please feel free to schedule an examination at D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

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Boston Doctor on Double Vision or Diplopia

Boston eye doctor Francis A. D’Ambrosio Jr., M.D. comments on double vision. “Double vision, which we also refer to as diplopia, generally results from either a misalignment of your eyes or a structural problem with the part or parts of the eye that let light into it”, noted “There are two types of double vision. The first type is called binocular diplopia. The second type is referred to as monocular diplopia.” Monocular diplopia can be differentiated from binocular diplopia by a simple test. If the double vision stops when you cover one eye, then you are suffering from binocular diplopia.  If the double vision persists even with one eye covered, that means you are experiencing monocular diplopia.

There are many different causes for diplopia. The problem can arise from the eyes themselves, the surrounding orbit, or the central nervous system. Causes of double vision include corneal infections or scars, cataract, eye muscle weakness from thyroid problems, nerve damage from diabetes or multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disease such as myasthenia gravis, brain tumors or aneurysms, strokes, head trauma, orbital trauma, direct eye trauma and even migraine headaches.
Double vision can occur by itself with no other symptoms. However, depending on the cause other symptoms may be present with diplopia that can include:

• Droopy Eyelids
• Pain with Eye Movements
• Headache
• Nausea
• Misalignment of one or both eyes causing a "wandering eye" or "cross-eyed" appearance
• Weakness of the other muscles in your body

“Double vision thats new or unexplained requires urgent medical attention. With so many potentially serious causes for diplopia, its important to discover the reason without delay”, said Dr. D’Ambrosio, Jr. A thorough history and physical examination are critical to localizing a disease process and guiding further tests and studies to identify and treat the cause.

If you or someone you know experiences double vision, it is important to schedule an appointment for an examination. Please feel free to call D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937 to schedule an appointment.  You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

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 eye surgery for 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.

DAmbrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

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Boston Corneal Specialist on LASIK Dry Eyes

“As a corneal specialist who is a LASIK surgeon I have many ways of helping patients both avoid and manage LASIK related dry eyes,” shared JoAnn Chang, M.D. a Boston Corneal Specialist at D’Ambrosio Eye Care with eye care and LASIK offices in Athol, Lancaster, Acton and Gardner, MA. “By far the most common side effect of LASIK is dry eyes. In fact, it is pretty much expected and pretty normal for all LASIK patients to have temporary dry eye symptoms after their treatment. The critical thing to know is that the dry eye symptoms should be temporary.”

“What I like to emphasize with my LASIK patients is that they need to remember that LASIK is corneal surgery. Any time we do corneal surgery we typically sever some corneal nerves and also temporarily disturb the delicate cells on the surface of the eye. This happens during cataract surgery and any other eye surgery procedures that involve the cornea,” Dr. Chang explained. She further explained, “These corneal nerves are connected to the Lacrimal Gland which is responsible for producing tears-so when the nerves are temporarily interrupted there is a decrease in the amount of tears that are produced making your eyes feel dry and gritty.”

To make you more comfortable during the time it takes for the corneal nerves to heal and regenerate we may do one of more of the following for you:

· Prescribe Artificial Tear Eye Drops
· Insert Tiny Tear Duct Plugs
· Prescribe Restasis® Eye Drops
· Prescribe Dietary Supplements with Omega-3 Oils

Each of the above acts to either retain the tears that you have, supplement the tears that are lacking or help you produce more of your own tears so that you will be most comfortable and heal properly. Each person will regenerate the fine corneal nerves at a DIFFERENT RATE and thus will need to use one or more of the above tear helpers for different amounts of time. A very important consideration is how healthy your tear film was BEFORE your surgery. A critical part of your LASIK consultation will be a careful examination of your tear film. Sometimes, in order to make you the most comfortable and make the healing and visual recovery process as quick and easy as possible for you, we may actually prescribe one or more of the above BEFORE your surgery.

If you, or someone you know, has questions about LASIK and dry eyes or would like to schedule a free LASIK Evaluation please call and schedule an appointment at D’Ambrosio Eye Care by calling 800-325-3937, visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

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.

DAmbrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice with offices in Athol, Lancaster, Acton, Gardner serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

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Boston Corneal Specialist on Eye Health Contacts Swimming

Boston Corneal Specialist JoAnn C. Chang, M.D. of D’Ambrosio Eye Care commented on eye health, contact lenses and swimming. “Understanding how swimming can affect your eyes, eye health and vision is worth learning a little about as summer typically means lots of water activities for all of us,” said Dr. Chang. ”In general, unless you are wearing goggles, it is best not to swim with your eyes open under water and whenever possible, to avoid splashes of water into your eyes. This is because the various types of pool chemicals that are used for keeping the water clean and free of contamination may actually be irritating at a minimum and in some instances damaging to the surface of the eye,” she further explained. Maintaining the proper pH levels in swimming pools takes considerable monitoring and effort and as the pH varies so does the possibility of eye irritation. Your natural tears have a pH of 7.0, if the pH of the pool water is below or above that level that level, it will certainly cause your eyes to burn or sting. The proper pH level for swimming pools is in the range of 7.2 to 7.8. If the pH is maintained within this range, burning eyes shouldnt be a problem for swimmers.

If you plan on spending any lengthy period of time in the water you should protect your eyes by wearing goggles. Swimming with contact lenses is very risky. The eye health risk of swimming with contacts depends on the body of water you are in. When swimming on lakes and in rivers there is a considerable risk of the microorganism, Acanthamoeba, adhering to your contacts. Acanthamoeba keratitis is a severe and potentially blinding infection and inflammation of the cornea. This same risk is present when wearing contacts in hot tubs or spas. While the risk of sight-threatening infection is lesser in properly chlorinated swimming pools and the ocean, other problems may be encountered. In a swimming pool eye irritation is possible when chlorine sticks on the surface of your lenses. In the ocean, your contact lenses can be dislodged when you encounter large waves. You need to carefully consider whether to wear contact lenses while swimming. Keeping your head out of the water and wearing goggles will help to greatly reduce risk.
If you worry about not being able to see clearly without glasses or contacts and want to see clearly while in the pool or ocean, you may wish to consider LASIK as a vision correction method so as not to be dependent on eyeglasses or contacts for swimming.
If you or someone you know has questions about swimming, swimming pools, eye health, vision and contact lenses please feel free 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.
 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.

DAmbrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

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Boston Surgeon on Cataract Surgery Vitreous Detachment

Boston Cataract Surgeon Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr., M.D. explained why cataract surgery patients often experience Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) after a cataract operation. “Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) does indeed appear to be more common in individuals who have had cataract surgery. There may not be an obvious "cause and effect" relationship but there are a number of possible factors that contribute to this,” said Dr. D’Ambrosio, Jr. of D’Ambrosio Eye Care with offices in Athol, Lancaster, Acton & Gardner, Massachusetts. 

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Boston Insurance Copays Coinsurance Deductibles

“Understanding insurance copays, coinsurance and deductibles is getting even more confusing for Boston patients”, commented Massachusetts Ophthalmologist Francis DAmbrosio Jr., M.D. of DAmbrosio Eye Care. Due to the ever-increasing cost of healthcare, many patients find themselves with higher copays, coinsurance and/or deductibles. It can be confusing to understand all of these terms but it is a very important part in understanding your medical bills.

A co-payment (or co-pay) is the flat amount the patient pays each time they see their medical provider. Your insurance establishes these fees up front and many insurance companies print this information on your insurance ID card. Coinsurance and co-payments are not the same thing. A co-payment is a set amount that you pay each time you see your medical provider. On the other hand, coinsurance is typically a certain percentage of the provider’s fee that is owed by the patient. For example, some insurance companies pay 80% and the patient is responsible for the remaining 20%. That 20% is the coinsurance that is due from the patient per the insurance company. The amount the patient owes will vary based on the fee for the service.

A deductible is a fixed amount of money that the patient must pay before the insurance company begins making payment. For example, let’s say a patient has an insurance policy with a $100 deductible. If the insurance considers $300 of the services provided as “covered” services, the patient must pay $100 and the insurance will pay the remaining $200. Deductible amounts are typically calculated yearly so that means that beginning January 1st of each new calendar year, you must meet your deductible before your insurance will issue payment. If you have any questions on your billing from DAmbrosio Eye Care, please contact us at 800-325-3937 and we will be happy to explain in detail any charges for you

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Multifocal Contact Lenses in Boston

Boston contact lens wearers may want to know that Multifocal Contact Lenses are a good option for vision correction for patients with Presbyopia. Presbyopia is a condition of the eye which results in the loss of ability to focus on near objects. This happens to most people in their early to mid forties. In the past, reading glasses or bifocals were needed to allow people to read up close. Multifocal contact lenses are now available for people with presbyopia, and they can provide clear vision at all distance ranges.

There are many brands of soft multifocal contact lenses. These lenses achieve good vision at distance and near using different technologies. Some multifocal lenses have an aspheric surface which provides a range of clear vision from far to near but vision may be dependent on a persons pupil size. Other lenses have alternating rings which provide clear vision at distance or near but side effects can include halos or ghosting of images.

Multifocal designs are also available in gas permeable lenses. Gas permeable lenses can use an aspheric or translating design to provide a good range of clear vision. Translating contact lenses have a bifocal segment in the lower half of the lens like a pair of bifocal glasses. While vision is potentially very good with these lenses, stability of the lens and proper interaction with the lower eyelid is important.

Monovision is another way to treat presbyopia with contact lenses. With monovision, a distance contact lens is placed on one eye and near contact lens is placed in the other eye. With both eyes open, a greater range of clear vision is possible. However, depth perception may be affected some patients.

When fit properly, multifocal contact lenses can allow many people to meet their daily visual needs without reading glasses or bifocals. This can be determined at an eye examination with one of the eye doctors at D’Ambrosio Eye Care.

Call 800-325-3937 for more information or to schedule an appointment. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

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Boston Doctor on Children’s Eye Health Safety

Boston Pediatric Ophthalmologist Oren Weisberg, M.D., commented on children’s eye health, safety and vision problems. “Prevent Blindness America has designated September as Children’s Eye Health & Safety Awareness Month. Eye and vision problems affect one in twenty preschoolers and one in four school aged children. Parents should be aware that it is possible for their children to have a serious vision problem without even being aware of it,” said Dr. Weisberg of D’Ambrosio Eye Care with offices serving greater Boston and central Massachusetts.

Infants should be screened for common eye problems during their regular pediatric appointments and vision testing should be conducted for all children starting at around three years of age. If there is a family history of eye problems, or if an eye problem is apparent, it is important to bring it to the attention of and eye doctor so that they can advise the parents about when and how often their child’s eyes should be examined. Among the conditions an eye doctor will look for are amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid), color deficiency (color blindness) and refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism). "Aside from vision-threatening conditions, eye screenings for children are important because vision changes can occur without you or your child noticing them," further noted Dr. Weisberg. “If your child is having trouble seeing the blackboard or the words in a book, learning, as well as participating in recreational activities, can be impacted. While vision problems can interfere with school performance, its important to distinguish them from learning disorders”, commented Dr. Weisberg.

“You also have to protect your child’s eyes from the danger of eye injuries. Be sure that the toys your child plays with are appropriate for his or her age and maturity level. Avoid toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts. Participation in any type of sport also could endanger your child’s eyes, so make sure he or she wears appropriate protective eyewear,” said Dr. Weisberg.

To schedule a pediatric eye examination for your child, call D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937. You may also request an appointment at facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare or by visiting D’Ambrosio Eye Care.
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.

DAmbrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

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Boston Cataract Surgeon on Surgery Diabetes

Boston Cataract Surgeon Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr. M.D. shared information and facts about cataract surgery and diabetes. “With the proper detailed preoperative evaluation, examination and surgical care, cataract surgery can be successfully performed for patients with diabetes,” stated Dr. D’Ambrosio, Jr. “This is fortunate as diabetes is a well known risk factor for developing cataracts. Diabetic patients are also at risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, a serious threat to vision and a leading cause of new blindness. In fact, it is not uncommon for diabetic patients to need cataract surgery often at an earlier age than others who are not diabetic due to their increased risk factors,” he further explained.

Even though diabetes is known to predispose patients to slower and more difficult wound healing, the type of small-incision cataract surgery we use on a routine basis poses no additional risk to diabetic patients than non-diabetic patients. Often, it is important that diabetics considering cataract surgery have a careful evaluation of the retina-especially the macula-using ocular coherence tomography (OCT) to identify the presence of diabetic macular edema (DME), a known finding in diabetic retinopathy that can cause less then optimal results after cataract surgery. In addition, in certain situations cataract surgeons may take an added precaution of placing an injection of VEGF inhibitor such as Avastin™ or Lucentis™ into the vitreous of the eye to prevent new blood vessel growth. Other than these considerations diabetic cataract surgery can offer patients good results. Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to preserving eye health and vision with diabetes. See your eye doctor regularly as he or she requests.

If you or someone you know has questions about diabetes and cataract surgery, please feel free to call D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937, visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare to schedule an appointment.

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.

DAmbrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

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Boston Cataract Surgery Complications

Boston Cataract Surgeon and Corneal Specialist JoAnn C. Chang, M.D. commented on cataract surgery complication. “Although cataract surgery complications are really pretty rare everyone with a cataract who is thinking about having eye surgery always has a concern about what could go wrong,” commented Dr. Chang.  Certainly there are things that could go wrong. “Basically in the hands of an experienced cataract surgeon using modern cataract surgery techniques we do everything possible to reduce the risk of complications, said Boston Cataract Surgeon JoAnn C. Chang, M.D. at D’Ambrosio Eye Care. “When you consider the huge benefit that patients receive in not only in terms of vision but also lifestyle, comfort, convenience and safety the risk of complications is really quite low”, said Dr. Chang. For routine cataract surgery in healthy patients the complication rate is well under 5%. This might increase somewhat if you have diabetic eye disease, glaucoma or other types of health or eye problems.

So what kinds of things can go wrong? First there are a handful of things that can happen during or within the first 24-48 hours after a cataract operation. These include the very unusual things like bleeding inside the eye which is really rare, a little bleeding on the surface of the eye or an inner eye infection which is quite rare. Sometimes, if we need to anesthetize the eye using an injection you may have a little “black and blue” eye or an eyelid bruise. This usually clears up pretty quickly. Sometimes the “capsule” around the crystalline lens that is removed as part of the operation might be broken during the surgery and we might need to do a “vitrectomy” as part of the surgery to get a good result. This too is pretty unusual. More common in very nearsighted patients, some patients who have cataract surgery can have a retinal detachment. Occasionally in patients who have had “no stitch” cataract surgery the actual incision may leak. If this happens it is sometimes necessary for us to put a stitch in place to tightly close the incision. Then there are a few types of complications that can occur over a longer period of time. Very rarely the intraocular lens implant can move off center or the center of the retina can swell. By far the most common complication is a clouding of the lens capsule that has been left in place to support the lens implant. Fortunately, this complication is pretty easily managed with a quick, painless procedure called a YAG Laser Capsulotomy that restores the vision almost immediately after the procedure.

Although it might sound like there are lots of possible complications of cataract surgery, rest assured they are quite unusual. This most common one of capsule opacity is easily treated.  If you need cataract surgery it is important to have a little knowledge so you appreciate the degree of skill and experience required of your cataract surgeon to help you get the best result.

If you or someone you know has cataracts and has questions about cataract surgery and lens implant complications please feel free to call D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937. You may also request an appointment at www.facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare.

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and lens implants (IOL), laser eye surgery 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.

DAmbrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.

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Boston Doctor on Eyestrain Problems

Boston Ophthalmologist Francis D’Ambrosio, Jr., M.D. commented on eyestrain problems and tired eyes. “Today, particularly with the amount of time patients spend on computers or devices with digital displays, it is quite common to have them tell us they have eyestrain or tired eyes.  What eyestrain really is, is the term that describes the eye and vision problem called “asthenopia,” stated Dr. D’Ambrosio Jr. “Eyestrain, or asthenopia, is the eye condition that results when the eyes get tired from excessive or intense use. In general although eyestrain or tired eyes can be pretty annoying, the symptoms disappear when we stop using our eyes for a while and rest. Typically, eyestrain is not a serious condition, but could indicate some underlying problem that needs to be addressed especially if it is related to headaches, double vision, difficulty concentrating and fatigue,” he further explained.

People who report eyestrain often do so by complaining about symptoms of fatigue, dull eye pain or discomfort, blurry vision, double vision, headaches, dry eyes, light sensitivity and sometimes even a stiff or sore neck. Eyestrain is very common among people who use or work on computers or play video games for prolonged periods of time. The use of computer screens of any sort along with uncorrected common refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and the age related near vision focusing problem presbyopia is a frequent cause of eyestrain. Along with even slight eye muscle imbalances, these focusing problems can really result in annoying eye fatigue and strain.

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