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July 1, 2025
Photo Credit: Getty Images
As families gear up for summer activities, eye care practices—especially those with a pediatric focus—are about to enter one of the busiest seasons of the year. In a recent episode of the ECP Viewpoints Podcast, Scaling Myopia Management: Summer Strategies with Dr. Aamena Kazmi, Dr. Kazmi of Bellaire Family Eyecare shared her insights on how her team prepares for the summer influx of young patients, particularly those undergoing myopia control treatment.
Here are four key takeaways from the conversation that can help your practice stay prepared through the summer and into back-to-school season:
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Plan Ahead with Purposeful Scheduling
Dr. Kazmi emphasized the importance of intentional scheduling. While her practice typically accommodates scheduling for school-aged children after 3:00 PM during the school year, her practice shifts to accommodate kids throughout the day when summer arrives.
Tip for Your Practice:
- Revisit scheduling slots specifically for pediatric exams and follow-ups.
- Train your front desk team to prioritize time blocks for school-aged patients that may have extended availability during the day.
- Consider extending hours or adding weekend availability during peak weeks.
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Staff Up and Train Early
To handle the summer rush, Bellaire Family Eyecare brings in optometry students as technicians and participates in CooperVision’s myopia immersion program. This ensures they have extra hands for specialty testing and contact lens training (I&Rs).
Tip for Your Practice:
- Consider temporary hire or part-time help, such as optometry or pre-med students, to assist with increased patient volume.
- Use weekly staff meetings to review protocols and reinforce consistency in communication to ensure everyone is aligned on procedures, messaging and patient education.
- Stock up on ice cold water in case patients are coming from summer camps or otherwise in the summer heat.
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Stock Up for Same-Day Starts
Dr. Kazmi’s team keeps a well-managed inventory of MiSight 1 day* 10-pack trials and 90 packs to dispense, enabling them to start treatment the same day as the comprehensive eye exam. This approach boosts conversion rates and minimizes visits—perfect for busy parents and busy practices.
Tip for Your Practice:
- Partner with your rep to make sure trials are fully and regularly stocked and maybe an additional tray to support same-day starts.
- Train your team to approach every consultation with the mindset that treatment will begin immediately.
- Ensure patients leave with either lenses in hand or a clear follow-up plan and educational materials.
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Normalize the Conversation Around Myopia Control
One of Dr. Kazmi’s most powerful strategies is simply talking about myopia control with every eligible patient. She encourages providers to take the leap and make these conversations routine.
Tip for Your Practice:
- Don’t wait for parents to ask—proactively introduce myopia control as the standard of care.
- Share success stories and patient testimonials to build trust and interest.
- Remember: parents are often willing to invest in their child’s long-term vision health, especially when they understand the benefits.
Final Thoughts
As Dr. Kazmi shared, myopia control isn’t just a treatment—it’s a rewarding part of practice that brings joy to both providers and families. With the right preparation, your practice can not only manage the summer surge but also grow your myopia control program and deepen patient relationships.
Ready to elevate your summer strategy? Start planning now, empower your team, and make every patient interaction count!
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Dr. Aamena Kazmi graduated from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2015, and she is currently an associate at Bellaire Family Eye Care, a private practice in the Houston, TX, area. She primarily manages patients in need of dry eye management, specialty contact lenses, and myopia control. In addition, Dr. Kazmi is a consultant for CooperVision. |
*Indications for use: MiSight 1 day (omafilcon A) soft (hydrophilic) contact lenses for daily wear are indicated for the correction of myopic ametropia and for slowing the progression of myopia in children with non-diseased eyes, who at the initiation of treatment are 8-12 years of age and have a refraction of -0.75 to -4.00 diopters (spherical equivalent) with ≤ 0.75 diopters of astigmatism. The lens is to be discarded after each removal. 18285 06/25
