A New Focus

Independence, wellbeing, quality of life—vision has so much to offer. I’ve always been drawn to helping people and overcoming challenges, so working as an eyecare technician is a natural fit.

Childhood myopia is often one of these challenges, and it is growing more common. Fortunately, we can do something about it. With the help of organizations like the World Council of Optometry, myopia management is moving from niche to mainstream and is gaining momentum as the future standard of care.

As an optometric technician, I support myopia management from a patient’s preliminary testing through to contact lens training as needed. Myopia management needs a streamlined approach, and knowledgeable staff can help ensure a smooth eye health journey.

ENGAGING CHILDREN IN THEIR EYE HEALTH JOURNEY

At our Contact Lens Institute of Houston (CLIH) at Bellaire Family Eye Care, we have parents and their children as young as 5 and 6 years old coming through our doors seeking myopia management. Our modus operandi: Keep up the pace, make it fun, and engage their natural curiosity—your youngest patients will become your best. Here’s what that looks like in action:

 As I guide a young patient through preliminary testing, I keep an eye on what rooms are available so that there’s no wait between machines. Time is of the essence with short attention spans.

 Eye drops and equipment can make some patients anxious, especially at their first appointments, so empathy is important. By acknowledging that it’s normal to blink and that eye drops can be tricky for everyone, I help keep patients from getting discouraged.

To make the process more entertaining, I say that the equipment is “like a video game.” Getting the child engaged and interested during the testing helps gather accurate information and makes follow-up visits easier. A prize or snack from our treasure box certainly helps too!

 Ever observant and inquisitive, children often want to know what’s going on and may have questions. As you converse with the parent, make sure the child is involved. It’s an important opportunity to build trust that will pave the way for the rest of the appointment.

GATHERING PIECES OF THE EYE HEALTH PUZZLE

Here’s what this step of the process looks like in action:

• Visual acuity, axial length, and corneal topography are the first measurements we take before the patient meets with one of our optometrists.

• Axial length is a recent addition to our preliminary testing and a useful measurement for myopia management. The ultimate goal of myopia control is to preserve eye health by reducing elongation of the eye. Axial length, while the gold standard in the research setting, is an important parameter in the clinical setting of an orthokeratology practice to monitor and evaluate myopia control outcomes.

• However, these measurements are only part of the picture. I also work to get to know the patient, listen to the parent’s concerns, and pay attention to the parent-child dynamic. The parent who wants to be more involved with the child can help with compliance, contact lens wear hygiene, and regular follow-up visits. The keen, attentive, and independent child can help alleviate the doubts of a nervous parent. Guiding the parent and child to work as a team ensures the long-term success of the program.

• I gather information about the family’s health history and the child’s lifestyle so that we know all the factors that may impact their vision and, if they have myopia, what treatment modality may be the best fit. A child is three to six times more likely to develop myopia if one or both parents already have the condition.

• Asking about screen time has been a key question lately, especially as the pandemic has meant months or years of virtual learning for many students. We also talk about time outdoors, what sports or activities the child enjoys, and any challenges they may be experiencing with their vision, contact lenses, or glasses. 

Christine David is an optometric technician at Bellaire Family Eye Care and the Contact Lens Institute of Houston in Bellaire, TX. She serves as an advocate for myopia management in the practice and is involved in several ongoing myopia management clinical trials.