February 1, 2026
By Aamena Kazmi, OD, ABO Diplomate
Photo Credit: Dreamstime Photos
In the last decade, the conversation about myopia has shifted dramatically. Once treated as a benign refractive condition corrected with glasses, it is now recognized as a progressive disease with potential long-term ocular health implications—including increased risk of retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma and cataracts.
As myopia management becomes a cornerstone of modern pediatric optometry, our ability to communicate its value is as critical as the treatments themselves, and our messaging must extend beyond the exam room. Parents arrive with varying degrees of understanding, skepticism and concern. Frontline staff – technicians, opticians and administrative team members—play a pivotal role in shaping these families’ first impressions and confidence in the process. Therefore, every team member should be equipped to accurately and confidently answer the most common questions parents ask about myopia management.
“Why is my child’s prescription getting worse every year?”
What your team should know: Explain that myopia is not simply “needing stronger glasses.” It is the result of the eye elongating as a child grows. This stretching changes the way light focuses on the retina, leading to worsening nearsightedness over time. Emphasize that the goal of myopia management is to slow down this eye growth, not eliminate myopia or cease all prescription changes.
Key message to reinforce: We cannot reverse myopia or completely prevent worsening, but we can take steps to slow its progression and help protect your child’s long-term eye health.
This answer sets realistic expectations while introducing the idea that treatment is ongoing and preventative, not curative.
“Will my child still need glasses?”
What your team should know Parents often assume that myopia control means reversing nearsightedness and that their child will eventually not need glasses. Clarifying that these treatments are designed to slow progression or worsening nearsightedness—not reverse myopia or replace vision correction—is essential. The patient will still need to wear glasses or contact lenses, but ideally, his/her prescription will be less likely to deteriorate over time.
Key message to reinforce: The goal is to keep your child’s prescription from increasing too quickly and to reduce risks later in life.
“How long will my child need to be in treatment?”
What your team should know: It is important for staff to convey that myopia management is a long-term process, often continuing until eye growth naturally slows—typically in the mid- to late-teenage years. Some children may require treatment beyond that, depending on their progression pattern.
Key message to reinforce: Myopia tends to worsen as children grow, so we usually continue treatment throughout those growing years to protect the eyes’ long-term health as much as possible.
Setting this expectation early helps parents understand that commitment matters as much as the choice of modality.
“Which treatment option works best?”
What your team should know: There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best treatment depends on factors like age, lifestyle, progression rate and how comfortable the family is with certain modalities. Your team should not make clinical recommendations, but should understand the basics of each option:
- Orthokeratology: Worn overnight, every night; provides clear daytime vision without correction; highly effective for active kids or those not ready for daytime lenses.
- Multifocal or Dual-Focus Soft Contact Lenses: Worn during the day; provide vision correction and myopia control benefits through peripheral optics not utilized in standard, single vision contact lenses.
- Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses: Provide vision correction and myopia control benefits through peripheral optics not utilized in standard, single-vision spectacle lenses; good introduction to myopia control, especially for younger children.
- Low-dose Atropine: Simple nightly eye drops; ideal for non-contact lens wearers (especially if peripheral defocus spectacle lenses are not available) or combined therapy.
Key message to reinforce: Dr. [Name] will prescribe the option—or combination—that best fits your child’s ocular needs and lifestyle.
This reiterates that careful and individualized recommendations will be made for the child, establishing trust and strengthening rapport between the doctor and the family.
“Are these treatment options safe?”
What your team should know: Parents often equate specialty contact lenses or atropine drops with risks. Your team should understand—and be prepared to describe—the safety profiles clearly. For example, orthokeratology lenses are worn overnight, and with proper hygiene and lens care, the risk of infection remains similar to that of daytime lens wear. Low-dose atropine treatments use low concentrations to minimize side effects, such as light sensitivity or near blur, and regular follow-up care will ensure these side effects remain minimal throughout the duration of the treatment.
Often, parents of young children even question the safety of daytime contact lens wear. The baseline risk from contact lens wear is broadly similar in children and adults. Large studies and reviews have found no clear age-related increase in microbial keratitis rates just from being a child versus an adult when proper lens hygiene and wear schedules are followed.
Key message to reinforce: All of these treatments are safe when used as prescribed, and we monitor your child closely throughout.
Confidence in safety is fundamental to parental buy-in. Staff should know the office’s specific follow-up schedule and what “monitoring closely” actually entails.
“Why are these treatment options not covered by insurance?”
What your team should know: Parents find it frustrating and difficult to believe and accept that myopia management options are not covered by insurance.
Key message to reinforce: Most insurance plans are designed to cover basic eye care services, such as routine eye exams, glasses, or contact lenses for standard vision correction. Unfortunately, myopia management treatments are considered elective or preventive specialty care, which is why they are not currently covered by insurance, even though there is strong clinical evidence supporting their efficacy.
Myopia management goes beyond simply correcting vision on a once-a-year basis; it is focused on slowing the progression of nearsightedness to help reduce the risk of future eye health complications. This typically involves specialized technology, additional testing, customized treatment plans and more frequent monitoring, which fall outside the scope of what insurance classifies as “covered.”
While insurance does not reimburse these services, many families choose myopia management because of the long-term benefits to their child’s eye health. It is important that your team can explain the nuisances of insurance in a way that is clear, empathetic and confident – without sounding defensive or salesy.
“Why are these options more expensive?”
What your team should know: This question often reflects parental skepticism. Staff should respond with data-driven reassurance, emphasizing that myopia control lenses/treatments are based on extensive clinical research, not a marketing scheme. The team member can mention that FDA-approved daily disposable multifocal contact lenses, FDA-approved peripheral defocus spectacle lenses, orthokeratology and low-dose atropine eye drops have all demonstrated efficacy in reducing myopia progression by 40-60% on average.
Key message to reinforce: These treatments exist because research shows they can significantly slow how fast myopia worsens. They require individualized selection, close management and specialized testing.
This positions the practice as science-driven rather than sales-driven.
The Role of Communication
All team members should share uniform messaging. Providing each team member with a myopia management FAQ sheet and key talking points ensures consistency across the patient journey. The tone should always be informative, supportive and confident.
When team members are knowledgeable, they reduce parental anxiety, reinforce trust in the practice and allow the optometrist to focus on individualized recommendations rather than re-explaining basic concepts.
Conclusion
Parental understanding is the foundation of adherence in myopia management. Every conversation—whether the initial phone call, at the front desk, in pretesting, or while dispensing lenses—is an opportunity to educate and reinforce the value of preventative eye care.
By ensuring that every team member can answer these core questions with clarity and confidence, optometrists can strengthen their practice’s credibility, support parents in making informed decisions and ultimately improve long-term outcomes for children affected by myopia.
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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. |
Read more about effective myopia management communication strategies here
