“As Prevent Blindness America has designated February as National Age Related Macular Degeneration Awareness Month, on behalf of the eye doctors at D’Ambrosio Eye Care we want to stress the need for regular eye exams to ensure early detection of macular degeneration as the key to preventing vision loss,” shared Massachusetts Ophthalmologist Francis D’Ambrosio Jr., M.D. “Patients-especially those 50 and over-need to know that age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in Americans older than 50,” explained Dr. D’Ambrosio Jr. “While it is not possible to actually cure AMD, our clinical experience demonstrates that with early detection, diagnosis and treatment when necessary we can be quite effective in helping patients prevent vision loss and in many instances we can help recover some lost vision.”

It is advisable for everyone older than 50 to have a comprehensive, dilated eye examination every one to two years to ensure that AMD is detected as early as possible. If anyone in your family has macular degeneration it is critical to be seen even earlier and more often. “We want to be as certain as possible that if you are at risk for macular degeneration or show any signs of “Wet” AMD such as the growth of unwanted blood vessels under the retina-we make sure you have access to treatment with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) inhibitor injections such as Lucentis® as soon as possible. By learning the symptoms to watch for, bringing to our attention and getting treatment as quickly as possible we can stop the blood vessel growth, reverse it and at a minimum prevent further vision loss and often actually improve vision,” explained Dr. D’Ambrosio Jr.

Patients can also help to decrease their risk of developing age related macular degeneration (AMD) by not smoking, moderating alcohol consumption to less than 15g per day, eating a heart-healthy diet rich in fish, fruit and green leafy vegetables, avoiding foods with trans fats, exercising and controlling blood pressure and weight.

D’Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading 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.

Via EPR Network
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