Promoting independence in pediatric eye care patients

In an exclusive interview with Optometry Times, Katie Chu, OD, discussed the importance of tailoring care to her pediatric patients. Through her 30 years of experience, Chu fosters proactive conversations to encourage compliance and understanding among her patients.

Chu's practice serves a predominantly Asian and Hispanic patient base, where she sees high rates of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. She noted that, while myopia management has drawn much of the field's attention, uncorrected hyperopia can be just as disruptive. Often, it can hinder a student's ability to perform detailed tasks.

Chu employs compassionate care in her practice to ensure that patients who rely on welfare programs, such as Medicaid, have access to care. Although insurance information is collected at check-in for administrative and billing purposes, Chu makes it a point not to discuss it during the exam.

“Because 70% of my patient base is on welfare, I go in blind in terms of insurance. I do not know what the patient has in terms of insurance. I take care of the needs of each individual,” Chu stated.

Chu addresses pediatric patients directly during the exam, treating them as capable of understanding their own eye health rather than speaking only to the parent in the room. She describes vision as central to a child’s education outcomes and future success.

In her experience, contact lens fittings are usually pursued by middle and high school-aged children. Chu often recommends myopia control lenses as a potential solution to help manage a high prescription. She emphasized that the decision to wear contacts should come from the child, since compliance suffers when children feel pressured into wearing them.

On the topic of LASIK, Chu mentioned that requests often originate with parents rather than teenage patients. She recommends waiting until at least age 18 since eye prescriptions can continue to change through early adulthood. She described pediatric eye care as part of a year-round effort, noting that vision correction is about optimizing a child's ability to perform, not simply providing glasses or contacts.