November 17, 2025
By Aaron Neufeld, OD
Photo Credit: Dreamstime Photos
When I opened my first clinic a decade ago, myopia management was just starting to gain mainstream traction and technology looked vastly different. Corneal reshaping lenses and low-dose atropine were gaining recognition and soft lenses weren’t even on the radar. As demand grew, I developed a comprehensive myopia management program around three core therapies to give families real solutions. Today, about 75% of our myopia management patients at Los Altos Optometric Group/Pacific Eye Care opt for orthokeratology, followed by about 10% in soft lenses and the remaining using atropine therapy.
Intelligent Data Integration for Customized Care
As an optometrist, four-location practice owner, consultant and co-founder of ODs on Finance—optometry’s largest financial platform—I have a unique vantage point on AI’s potential in the profession. I’ve woven AI into every facet of care, and I intend to embrace new tools as they arise.
With a handful of myopia management therapies now available, choosing the best option can be daunting. To streamline OrthoK lens design, I have experimented with feeding corneal topographies and autorefractor data into large language and vision models. In seconds, the AI returns custom lens maps that consistently match—or outperform—the recommendations we would get from manufacturer consultants. In head-to-head tests, AI not only mirrors human clinical decisions but also flags subtle corneal irregularities that can slip past human review. This is no knock on providers—the machine simply has greater processing power. And as optometry-specific AI platforms continue to evolve, I expect their diagnostic support to become even more impactful.
On the patient engagement side, automated texts and emails manage incoming calls, frequently asked questions and appointment booking. We use large language models to draft referral letters and progress reports, then manually add in any protected health information afterward. This consistency has reduced no-shows, improved compliance and freed staff from repetitive phone calls—allowing us to devote more time on face-to-face care and meaningful conversations with families.
The Irreplaceable Human Touch
It’s an exciting and unprecedented time as AI keeps advancing in ways we never imagined. I don’t shy away from that change—resisting it only holds you back. The most successful practices I’ve worked with are those that harness AI’s power while preserving our uniquely human skills. In myopia management, for example, teaching a child to insert or remove an OrthoK or MiSight lens demands hands-on guidance, real-time adjustments and empathetic reassurance through initial discomfort. Likewise, explaining how nightly atropine works on peripheral defocus to slow axial elongation requires clear visuals, tailored language and genuine connection—things no AI avatar can provide. AI simply amplifies our expertise, allowing us to deliver care that is more precise, efficient and accessible. But it’s those personal interactions that sustain long-term adherence and drive successful outcomes.
Looking ahead, I see a collaborative workflow where human expertise and AI capabilities complement each other. For example, a trained technician could run pretest scans—autorefraction, topography, axial length—and feed the data into an AI engine that propose a preliminary treatment plan. I then review the AI’s recommendations, fine-tune lens prescriptions or drop concentrations and spend more time counseling families. By offloading routine measurements and data synthesis to AI, I can focus on complex cases, address parental concerns and reinforce best-practice behaviors with each patient.
A Healthy Balance
To optometrists just entering practice—especially those focused on myopia management—my message is clear: embrace AI without losing your core clinical skills. Master large language and vision models for lens design, patient communication and diagnostic support, but don’t let technology supplant hands-on expertise. Continue refining your techniques and nurturing the face-to-face relationships that underpin trust—especially in health care.
Technology will continue to accelerate, but the profession’s true strength lies in those connections we form with each child and family. By mastering both AI tools and human empathy, we can deliver myopia management that is safer, more efficient and more satisfying than ever before. So, innovate boldly but never lose your human touch.
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Aaron Neufeld, OD, is the owner of Los Altos Optometric Group in Los Altos, Calif., Pacific Eye Care Optometry in Mountain View, Calif, and co-founder/COO of ODs on Finance. To contact him: aneufeldod@gmail.com |
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