Practice Profiles

Diving into Myopia Management Helped Get My Specialty Off the Ground

May 15, 2025

By Jason Compton, OD

A photo of a child having an eye exam, indicating the specialty of myopia management

Photo Credit: Getty Images

When I graduated optometry school in 2005, myopia management wasn’t a well-known specialty. However, as an eye care professional, I like to keep my ear to the ground when it comes to the latest innovations. I knew the industry was moving in the direction of adopting myopia management, and I wanted to be a part of it. 

Part of my introduction to myopia management also came from opening a new practice in New York City. I knew that I’d have to differentiate my practice, and myopia management was an opportunity that I saw first from a marketing standpoint. From a clinical standpoint, offering treatments to my patients that we couldn’t offer in years past was really what sparked my interest.

Learning on the Job

Because we were never formally introduced to myopia management in school, I had to learn the ins and outs of this new specialty on my own. I got to work reading as many journals and attending as many conferences as I could. Participating in wet labs was also instrumental in getting up to speed on how to prescribe myopia management, the fitting process for different lenses and the training required for working with patients on specialty treatments.  

Most of my instruction came from attending conferences. I think that’s an important note for my colleagues, because we often feel like because we didn’t learn it in school, there’s no opportunity for us to offer it in our practices. But I didn’t learn anything about myopia management in school, or even when I did my residency. I’m a testament to the fact that you can learn anything if you put your mind to it. We need to seek out the resources available to us in our industry. 

The Power of a Specialty Lens Coordinator

I feel very strongly that all myopia management treatment plans should be created on a case-by-case basis. It’s easier for us that way, but it also helps parents appreciate that this is something that’s being designed for their child specifically. It’s not a once-and-for-all protocol. We have a deliberate routine that we put our patients through, and that’s how we make a determination on which treatment to go with. 

We’ve streamlined this process in our office with the introduction of what we call our Specialty Lens Coordinator. They are fully educated on the different myopia management options—soft lenses, low-dose atropine, orthokeratology, etc. We’ve developed a flow where one of the ODs identifies a patient that’s a good candidate for myopia management. In that moment, the doctor may decide what treatment option they want to use, but many times that decision is done in consultation with the Specialty Lens Coordinator. 

After the initial visit with the doctor, we schedule another appointment with the Specialty Lens Coordinator. This visit takes place in a special section of our office, and the parents and the child can ask any questions, go through the options, and the Specialty Lens Coordinator has the liberty of making the decision about the treatment plan. Sometimes that decision is financial. Sometimes that decision is based on buy-in from the parent or buy-in from the patient. There are a lot of factors that go into that final decision.

Know How to Talk to All Kinds of Parents

One of the most important parts of myopia management is being able to properly explain the condition to parents and educate them on the options that are available to their child. We like to understand the dynamics between parents and their children, because parents are the ultimate decision-makers. That means that we need to know how to best reach them. 

We’ve found it’s helpful to tailor our conversation to each specific parent and child dynamic. When parents are more permissive, that signals to me that I have to convince the kid to get on board with myopia management, because the first time the child is uncomfortable or something’s wrong, the parents will immediately want to stop treatment. When the parent is very strict, I know I don’t need to convince the child, but I need to convince Mom. If I don’t win Mom over, it doesn’t matter if the kid is on board. It’s never a one-size-fits-all approach. When we’re in those conversations, we determine the dynamic to see who we need to win over. 

Helping Parents Get Over the Shock

I also have curated education materials that I give to parents, and I have materials from some of the manufacturers we work with. Those are helpful to give parents to take home with them, but when they’re in the office with you, it goes beyond just a brochure for them to read at home. Most of the time, parents are coming in and thinking they’re just going to update their child’s glasses. Then I start talking about different therapies and treatments—that cost them thousands of dollars—and it can be overwhelming. 

That’s why we’ve created that Specialty Lens Coordinator role, because that person can be there to answer all of the questions, walk them through the whole process, and ease any of the concerns they may have. We don’t always have that time when the patient is in the exam chair, but parents have questions, and they deserve answers. 

As a myopia management practitioner, parent education is often the biggest hurdle. Many parents that come into our office haven’t heard anything about myopia management before. I’m hitting them over the head for the first time, and it’s expensive, and they weren’t expecting it. To overcome that, the educational piece is key. We also need to expect that the patient may not agree to treatment on the first day. That’s where our Coordinator also comes into play. They can contact parents, arrange consultations and ensure we address their questions. We maintain communication with patients. If we wait a year for their return, they may progress further, and we’ll start from scratch.

Just Get Started

So often, I’m the first person presenting myopia management to a patient, which makes it difficult. As the specialty gains popularity, more colleagues will join. Consequently, this involvement will make things easier for everyone. While it may seem intimidating, it’s easy to stick your toe in the water. Start reading, start learning and start prescribing. As more practitioners get involved, it’s going to be easier to get people to subscribe to treatment plans.

 

Jason Compton, OD
Dr. Jason E. Compton is an optometrist with a strong commitment to clinical care, education and professional service. He is the founder of both Compton Eye Associates, a private practice in New York City, and TheRightContact.com, an AI-powered search platform designed to help eye care professionals identify appropriate contact lens options for their patients. He serves as Adjunct Faculty at the Puerto Rico InterAmerican University School of Optometry. Dr. Compton holds various roles within the American Optometric Association, sits on the board of Optometry Cares—The AOA Foundation, and serves as the Treasurer for the New York State Optometric Association. He continues to support the growth of the profession through both local and national initiatives.
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