Erin Tomiyama, OD, PhD, FAAO, offers actionable advice for myopia management and perspective for practitioners ready to refine their approach.
Myopia management continues to gain momentum in clinical optometry, and at the Collaborative Care Symposium, Erin Tomiyama, OD, PhD, FAAO, offered actionable advice and perspective for practitioners ready to refine their approach. This session, which Tomiyama co-presented with Mark Bullimore, OD, PhD, and Prethy Rao, MD, emphasized the importance of early intervention, lifestyle-informed treatment planning, and growing opportunities in the field.
Tomiyama stressed that choosing the right myopia management modality requires an individualized approach. Factors such as patient age, rate of progression, lifestyle, and even parental familiarity with certain treatments all play into decision-making.
“For kids who enjoy water sports, orthokeratology (ortho-K) works really well—they get clear vision without needing to wear lenses in the water,” she explained. “Sometimes parents are more comfortable with treatments they’ve used themselves, which can improve compliance.”
Initial treatment may begin with atropine drops for younger children not ready for contact lenses. As patients mature and seek more independence, transitioning to soft multifocal lenses or ortho-K becomes feasible. Regardless of modality, frequent follow-ups allow optometrists to monitor compliance and treatment efficacy, making adjustments as needed.
Tomiyama expressed excitement about the potential introduction of FDA-approved low-dose atropine and myopia control spectacle lenses in the US. “Spectacles are part of our daily toolkit, and their arrival will help more practitioners feel confident offering myopia management,” she said. “It could broaden access significantly.”
FDA regulation would also reduce variability in compounded atropine formulations, offering more consistency for both clinicians and families.
Artificial intelligence is expected to play a larger role in myopia management, from identifying ideal candidates for specific therapies to tracking progression. “A quick AI-generated summary could save time and support faster clinical decision-making,” Tomiyama noted.
Tomiyama closed with a call to action: “Just practice myopia management. Get started and grow your confidence. We’re shaping long-term outcomes—starting in childhood.”
Want more insights like this? Subscribe to Optometry Times and get clinical pearls and practice tips delivered straight to your inbox.
