Myopia is being diagnosed in young patients at an alarming rate. In fact, according to a JAMA Network Open study published earlier this year, myopia progression occurred more rapidly among schoolchildren during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Overall, the combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors are negatively affecting the visual health of children, who rely on seeing for 80% of learning in their formative years.

With a new arsenal of myopia control eyeglass lenses available to combat the progression in children, the role of an optician in myopia management has never been more valuable. The collaboration between care in the exam chair and in the optical can optimize the patient journey and create a cohesive response to a young child’s visual needs, now and in the future.

What does an optician typically have the luxury of? Face time with the patient and their parents in an environment more relaxed than the exam room.

Chair time is a valuable commodity, and if an O.D. doesn’t have time (or isn’t committed) to building an exam structure to account for extra time for myopic children, they do not always have the opportunity to answer the laundry list of questions that arise from the recommendation for myopia control intervention.

The best results come when the optometrist and the optician join together in a practice to each share their area of expertise with the patient.

Here, we offer a view as to what the tandem effort could look like to foster a successful experience for the patient and their parents.

What the Doctor Discusses:

▶ The health risks to the eye with an increase in Rx and axial length: The O.D. is the authority on the increased risk of eye diseases related to myopia and how a higher myopic prescription affects the likelihood of a patient experiencing these conditions.

▶ The compatibility of different treatment options: The O.D. has the opportunity to discuss all of the options available for myopia treatment and the benefits and potential risks of each, whether it be optical lenses, pharmaceuticals such as atropine, soft daily contact lenses, or orthokeratology.

▶ The family history and effect on possible progression: The O.D. will have access to family history from the patient intake form, and in cases of the entire family being under care, the opportunity to view in-depth exam results from each parent.

▶ The window of time the lenses are most effective: The O.D. can prescribe myopia treatment with urgency depending on the child’s age, prescription progression, and the rate of axial elongation.

▶ The young patient’s Rx trajectory based on the history of eye exams: The O.D. has the ability to chart the Rx history and changes in axial length to provide a visual graph of the young patient’s Rx preceding each visit. Showing the progression in a visual fashion makes it easier for the parent or guardian to understand the importance of a myopia treatment intervention.

▶ Exam schedule: The O.D. has the ability to create the recall schedule based on the myopia monitoring and chosen treatment path of the patient.

What the Optician Discusses:

▶ How the lenses work: The optician’s expertise lies in the explanation of how a lens works. They can offer an in-depth explanation of how the technology built into the lenses affects both the vision and the growth of the eye.

▶ How the lenses look: The optician will have samples in the optical to be able to demonstrate the physical appearance of the lenses. As these lenses have visible physical characteristics, it is important to show the wearer and their parent.

▶ What frames are compatible with the lenses: The optician is able to fit the patient with frames that are best suited to optimize the myopia control lenses. Frames need a correct depth, minimum horizontal decentration, a well-centered vertical OC, and a secure fit to ensure the lenses remain aligned with the patient’s optical center even during the playful life of young wearers.

▶ The statistics and studies showing results of use: The optician has access to a wealth of studies and statistics on the success rates of patients using myopia control lenses as an intervention to reduce myopia progression. The optician also has the added benefit of sharing real-life testimony from patients and parents who have been fitted with the product.

▶ What the warranty covers: The optician can discuss the warranty offered by each lens manufacturer, including the Rx change stipulations, which vary by lens vendor, and the time frame in which a warranty must be used.

▶ The cost of the lenses: The optician can discuss the costs of each myopia control lens option available, offer price comparisons versus single-vision lenses, and discuss the long-term cost of a higher-index single-vision lens with a higher Rx and larger frame size as the young wearer ages.

What the Front Desk Team Discusses:

▶ Answer telephone and email questions: The front desk team can answer questions about what brands of myopia control lenses or treatments the office offers. They can offer a consultation or pass off to an optician.

▶ Patient intake questions: The front desk team can inquire if either parent is myopic and encourage the parent(s) to attend the eye exam in order to better understand the experience of the child.

▶ What insurance will cover: The optical support staff can check the patient’s insurance coverage and quote the out-of-pocket expense to the parents or guardians of the young wearer.

▶ Exam schedule: The optical support staff can ensure recall checkups are being scheduled in collaboration with the doctor’s recommendation and that of the vendor’s myopia treatment lens style.

As eyecare professionals, it is our duty to act in the best interest of young myopic patients and provide treatment options to reduce Rx progression and save patients from falling into a high-myopic future. When a practice team synchronizes care, parents feel confident in the recommendations and young patients will have a clearer outlook on the future of their vision.

Sheena Taff’s independent optical shop in Vancouver, Canada, is a destination for children’s eyewear, featuring a selection of over 500 kids frames. Taff has become an advocate of myopia treatment in the dispensary, offering a range of targeted lens options as treatment solutions to reduce the progression of myopia, thus giving her younger patients a healthier visual future.