August 15, 2025
By Dina Miller, OD, IACMM
Photo provided by Dr. Dina Miller
Upon graduating from the University of Houston College of Optometry in 2011, I began offering patients orthokeratology lenses from day one. From early in my career, I was drawn to the idea of improving vision without surgery—especially for kids. With OrthoK, I was able to not only correct nearsightedness overnight, but also help slow myopia progression, and this made it a natural fit for my values as a provider. In 2017, I opened my private practice, Spanish Oaks Eyecare, and offered full-scope optometric services.
Diving into Myopia Management
Implementing myopia management into my practice wasn’t something I took lightly—it was a deliberate and evolving journey. I immersed myself in learning, attending conferences like the American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (AAOMC), all with the goal of staying at the forefront of clinical developments and lens technology. I also attended courses like SuperCharge, held by Dr. Nicholas Despotidis, which reshaped the way I educate and guide families through the myopia management process.
Throughout this process, one of the most transformative steps I took was traveling to Florida to work directly with Dr. Kenneth Maller. Studying under him dramatically expanded my skill set. That hands-on experience allowed me to refine my skills in OrthoK, fitting at a level I wouldn’t have reached otherwise. Thanks to Dr. Maller’s mentorship, I can now confidently offer OrthoK to patients with high astigmatism or high levels of myopia—cases that traditionally wouldn’t have been considered candidates for this treatment. The latest technological advances have allowed me to design lenses that fit complex prescriptions.
Commitment to Education
Part of taking this step seriously also meant obtaining my International Academy Certification in Myopia Management (IACMM). This helped solidify my clinical foundation and ensure I could confidently deliver evidence-based care across all myopia management modalities.
However, none of this would have come together as successfully without my Myopia Director Sonya Roscher. Sonya holds her Certified Myopia Navigator (CMN) certification, and she has been instrumental in bringing this program to life. Her leadership, organization and ability to communicate the “why” behind myopia management have been essential to the growth and structure of our care model. While I focused on clinical protocols and training, Sonya built out the systems, education materials and follow-up processes that make our myopia management program both efficient and deeply patient-centered.
Creating a Myopia-Only Clinic
As I began to see more children developing myopia earlier and progressing faster, I knew I needed to offer more than just standard care—I needed a specialized approach. That growing need inspired me to leave primary eye care and open our practice into the Myopia Center of Texas—a clinic dedicated entirely to managing childhood myopia with evidence-based treatments.
I wanted to create a space that was completely centered around education, prevention and child-friendly care. The environment is designed for kids and parents to feel comfortable, informed and empowered. I wanted it to feel more like a wellness center for eyes than a traditional eye clinic.
Before deciding to launch the Myopia Center of Texas, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. David Kading at Kading Consulting, who helped me think outside the box about how I wanted to shape my future in optometry. His guidance helped spark the vision for a more focused, preventative model of care that eventually evolved into the foundation of this new practice.
This new clinic has given me the chance to focus deeply on myopia prevention. It’s exciting to think about how we can impact a child’s vision long term—not just helping them see today but reducing their risk for serious eye conditions down the road. Having a dedicated clinic allows us to innovate, track progress more closely and build relationships with families. It feels like we’re building something truly meaningful.
Navigating Patient and Parent Education
When it comes to educating patients and their parents on myopia management, our team always starts with a conversation—simple, relatable and focused on long-term eye health. We show axial length growth trends, use comparison visuals and talk about the risks of high myopia in adulthood. Parents are often surprised to learn that traditional glasses are not the solution. Once they understand that we can slow down their child’s progression, they’re usually very engaged and grateful.
We give parents take-home materials, and we’ve created short, digestible videos and handouts that answer the most common questions. In our practice, we’ve found that getting too technical too quickly can create roadblocks in these discussions with parents. Keeping conversations straightforward and empathetic is key.
Building a Future
Looking ahead, my goal is for every team member—regardless of their role—to hold some level of certification in myopia management. Whether clinical or front office, everyone should be equipped to understand and support the care we deliver. That includes requiring even our receptionists to earn certification, so that every patient interaction reflects the level of expertise and commitment our practice stands for.
My hope is that myopia management becomes the standard of care—not just an add-on. The science is evolving quickly, and so is awareness, which is encouraging. I’d love to see even more collaboration between optometrists, pediatricians and schools, so that kids get the support they need as early as possible. The future of myopia care is proactive, and I’m excited to be a part of that shift.
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Dina Miller, OD, IACMM, owns and operates the Myopia Center of Texas. |
