Summer Activities Increase Need for UV Eye Protection in Massachusetts

LANCASTER, MA, May 01, 2013 (Press-News.org) "During the summer months we really need to be more careful about the potential for UV eye damage from excessive exposure to the sun," commented Francis A. D'Ambrosio, Jr., M.D., Medical Director of D'Ambrosio Eye Care with offices in Athol, Lancaster, Acton & Gardner, Massachusetts. "It's a great time of year to live and even visit greater Boston or anywhere in New England as the outdoor activities are plentiful. Walking, running, hiking, swimming and going to the beach are terrific-but the increased risk of sun and UV damage to your eyes may be greater than most people realize," he noted.

"For patients who experience UV damage to their skin from sunburn it is easy to remember to wear sunscreen the next time they are outdoors for a period of time. However, UV sun damage to your eyes can be more subtle, and worse, it is cumulative and can take many years to become apparent to patients," Dr. D'Ambrosio Jr. explained.

Sunglasses for UV eye protection should be considered more than simply a fashion accessory as the potential eye problems, conditions and diseases that can be directly and indirectly related to excessive and cumulative UV sun exposure is not trivial. A number of reports and studies have linked exposure to UV from excessive sunlight to earlier onset of cataracts, age related macular degeneration (AMD), facial skin cancers on the delicate tissue around the eye, a vascular growth of white tissue on the surface of the eye called a Pterygia-and even photokeratitis which is a type of sunburn of the cornea.

"Your eye doctor should spend time counseling and advising you on wearing proper UV protecting eyewear and sunglasses-especially if you work outdoors or have a lifestyle that exposes you to a great deal of UV and sunlight," summarized Dr. D'Ambrosio Jr. Patients visiting D'Ambrosio Eye Care in Athol, Lancaster, Acton or Gardner, MA will find a wide range of UV protecting eyeglass lenses and sunglasses available to choose from. Eye protection from UV needs to be complete but doesn't have to be overly expensive. High quality sunglasses should block out 99-100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. It is also important to have UV protection in everyday eyewear, which is readily available with a number of UV blocking eyeglass lens materials, specialized coatings and photochromic lenses.

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK 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, 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.

To learn more about D'Ambrosio Eye Care you may visit http://www.dambrosioeyecare.com or http://www.facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare or follow our eye care blog at http://dambrosioeyecare.blogspot.com.

SOURCE: Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C.
http://www.facebook.com/MedicalManagementServicesGroup
http://www.aboutcataractsurgery.com
http://www.seewithlasik.com

For additional information contact,
Judith Seppa, D'Ambrosio Eye Care, 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, Judith.Seppa@dambrosioeyecare.com, 1-800-325-3937.