February 13, 2026
By Damaris Raymondi, OD, FAAO
Photo courtesy of Dr. Damaris Raymondi
For me, serving my community means providing the best possible eye care. I love my neighborhood and know it intimately because I grew up here in Queens, New York. Building trust with peers, patients and families shapes every decision made in my practice because care and community come first.
Keep it Simple
Simplicity matters. I distill my message to its simplest form and directly ask parents what they’re worried about. The most common answer: they’re afraid their child’s vision will be worse next year.
Knowing this allows me to then steer them towards the options available for myopia management. I frame myopia management as something to start now, explaining what could happen if we wait six months or a year doing nothing. The emphasis on urgency with a timeline helps them visualize the future, so they understand consequences of inaction versus treatment.
Revised My Approach
In the early days of my practice, I followed a rigid structure, insisting on a comprehensive exam, separate myopia assessment and follow-up visits. I felt like all the information I had needed to be given at once. It was too much for me and the patients. I soon grew frustrated by the inability to get through to my parents about the importance of myopia management.
Looking introspectively, I noticed I was the common denominator in parents declining myopia management treatments. I overloaded them with everything I knew and hindered our ability to connect. A lot of my parents are hyperopes, so I often explain why their children need glasses and then what treatments are offered. Too much information and a complex process negatively affected their understanding of myopia and their interest in treatment.
It’s A Numbers Game
Over time, I realized that finding success in my practice is a numbers game. For every 100 patients I introduce myopia management to, some percentage will continue with treatment. So in order to grow, I began to educate each person who comes through the door. Some patients may be undecided, but documenting those conversations makes it easy to revisit the topic if they opt-in to treatment later. Discussing myopia management prepares your parents for when their child’s vision progresses.
I offer various myopia management treatments: OrthoK, MiSight 1 Day Lenses or atropine. My recommendation for which treatment to start depends on what I believe will work best for the child and family.
Building A Community
Community with like-minded and passionate peers is central to running my practice. The Myopia Collective is a guiding hand in building a community with my peers. Through my connections with other like-minded optometrists, I receive advice and hear stories reflecting my own personal practice. This was handy when I first began my practice, as it felt as though I had all of the tools and grit but very few patients to help.
What works for me is that in-person connection. I set up appointments to meet key staff and doctors in local offices. Bringing baked goods along helps them remember me much more than if I had simply dropped off referral cards.
Thanks to this approach, I’ve connected with a pediatrician whose practice has been a steady and dependable fixture in our community. I told her, “I’m just starting out and I would love to let you know what I’m doing.” She was willing to work with me and has referred patients since.
Sending specific referral reports has helped build my reputation, as well. Including axial length, other details of our visit and treatment plans makes them more aware of the specialty services I provide. These relationships didn’t spontaneously manifest but were nurtured. I made myself trustworthy, I followed through and I let my work speak for itself.
Referring Is An Option
Even as a myopia management specialist, I have hit a wall with a myopia patient. It may be because a parent wants a second opinion. It may be because for whatever reason we are not connecting. If this happens, I am happy to refer them to another optometrist. It’s more important that children get the help they need.
We can all do that. If you are uncomfortable or don’t have the treatment available, a referral now means that the child can receive care now.
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Dr. Damaris Raymondi received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the SUNY College of Optometry and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. At Sur Eye Care she focuses on pediatrics and general ocular disease. She volunteers as an advisor to the non-profit organization Sights on Health. On social media she is @newyorkeyedoc and she hosts her very own podcast, Eyes Up, on which she interviews inspiring health care professionals with conversations meant to recharge her listeners before they start their workweek. |
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