July 13, 2026
By Ashley Tucker, OD, FAAO, FSLS
Image generated with AI
For many myopia clinics, summer brings a noticeable shift. Families try to schedule appointments before school begins, practices see an influx of new pediatric patients and conversations about myopia management become more frequent. Even clinics that don’t feel overwhelmed often notice the pace picking up. It’s easy to assume that the added pressure is simply the result of seeing more patients, but perhaps being busy is not the problem. Perhaps it is friction.
Periods of increased demand don’t create weaknesses in a practice, they expose them. They reveal every unnecessary step, every inconsistent message and every process that seemed to work well enough when schedules were lighter but begins to slow things down as patient volume increases. Summer has a way of showing us where our systems support families and where they unintentionally create barriers.
The Subtle Signs of Friction
The irony is that myopia management has never been supported by more evidence. We have better technology, more treatment options and greater public awareness than ever before. Yet many families still leave our offices uncertain about what to do next. More often than not, it isn’t because the science is confusing. It’s because the experience is.
Friction appears in surprisingly subtle ways. A parent hears one recommendation from the technician and another from the doctor. One child routinely receives axial length measurements while another with a similar clinical profile does not. A family leaves without fully understanding why treatment should begin today instead of six months from now. Individually, these moments seem minor. Collectively, they create hesitation, and hesitation is one of the greatest obstacles to early intervention.
Eliminating Friction
Fortunately, friction is often easier to eliminate than we think. It starts by standardizing the parts of care that shouldn’t vary. Every eligible child should move through a predictable clinical pathway. Every family should hear the same foundational message about why myopia management matters. Every team member—from the person answering the phone to the optician or technician reinforcing treatment recommendations—should understand their role in the patient’s journey. Consistency doesn’t replace personalized care; it creates the foundation that allows personalized care to flourish.
Another way to reduce friction is to make decisions easier for families. Too often we overwhelm parents with every possible treatment option before helping them understand the “why.” Education should come first, followed by a thoughtful recommendation. Families generally aren’t looking for a menu of choices but for guidance from a clinician they trust. When we lead with confidence instead of complexity, decisions become easier.
Use the Time to Your Advantage
We can also use our busiest months as opportunities to improve. If the same questions arise repeatedly, perhaps the educational materials need to be clearer. If one step consistently delays patient flow, maybe the workflow should be redesigned rather than asking the team to simply work faster. If treatment acceptance varies from one provider to another, it may be time to align messaging across the practice. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s continuous refinement.
Whether your practice is experiencing a modest increase in patient volume this summer or has found every appointment slot filled weeks in advance, now is the perfect time to reflect. Ask your team where they are experiencing friction. Ask parents where they feel uncertain. Pay attention to the moments that slowed the process or created confusion. Those are rarely isolated frustrations but opportunities for improvement.
The practices that continue to thrive won’t necessarily be the ones that simply work harder during their busiest months. They’ll be the ones that intentionally remove unnecessary barriers, creating a smoother experience for families, greater confidence for staff, and earlier intervention for children. In the end, reducing friction isn’t just about improving efficiency. It’s about making it easier for every child who needs myopia management to receive it without delay.
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