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Simplify myopia management conversations for better understanding
By Thanh Mai, OD
Most optometrists talk too much. Not because they don’t care—they care deeply. But because they believe that if they explain everything, the patient will understand.
They won’t.
The truth is, most parents don’t need a lecture about axial length or peripheral defocus. They need a reason to believe, a story they can hold onto and a plan they can follow.
And they need it fast before they stop listening.
Seeking Reassurance
When you strip away all the detail, parents often have these three questions:
- Is it bad?
- Can it get worse?
- What can we do about it?
Your job is to answer them, clearly and calmly. Not to perform “medicine.” To provide reassurance.
When a parent asks, “Why does my child’s vision keep getting worse?” they’re not asking for a number. They’re asking for reassurance. They’re asking, “Is my kid okay?”
That’s your moment. Most of us blow it by opening a textbook instead of a conversation.
You don’t have to.
How Most Doctors Explain It
When you say: “Johnny’s axial length is increasing by 0.1 mm per year, which corresponds to roughly a quarter-diopter shift.”
Here’s what the parent hears: “Blah blah millimeters blah.”
Say this instead: “Johnny’s prescription went up a bit. That means his eyes are growing faster than we’d like. The good news is, we can guide that growth so it slows down and stays healthy.”
That’s making it human.
Find A Strong Analogy
You don’t need a chart. You need to create a visual that parents understand.
Say: “Johnny’s eyes are like a train picking up speed downhill. The longer it rolls, the harder it is to stop. We can pull the brakes now, or chase it later. Catching up is always harder.”
Or maybe this: “His eyes are like wet cement—still soft enough that we can guide how they set. Wait too long, and that cement hardens. Right now, we get to shape his future vision.”
Or for the pop-culture parent, tie in Lord of the Rings: “His eyes are growing like Sauron’s empire, steady and relentless. This is our Gandalf moment. It’s the time to stand up and say, ‘You shall not pass.’”
OK fine, that last one I would only use on a buddy. However, the goal isn’t to impress. It’s to make them see what you see.
The Power of A Simplified Approach
You don’t have to sell. You just have to make sense.
Try saying this, “We can actually guide how the eyes grow now. Glasses like Stellest use special lens zones that help slow that process.”
Each option tells a story of control of not waiting for things to get worse.
That’s what parents buy: not the product, but the promise of control.
How to Present the Results
Never lead with numbers. Lead with meaning.
Say: “Johnny’s prescription went up a little. That tells us his eyes are still growing faster than average—and that’s exactly what we’re here to slow down.”
Then, offer the plan: “We can start with X treatment. It helps control eye growth safely while he keeps living life normally.”
And end with confidence: “We’ll check again in a few months and adjust as we go. You’re not alone in this. We’ll guide you every step of the way.”
They don’t need every study. They need to know you have a system and a reason. Now if the patient is type A and asks for the studies, by all means give it to them.
The Balloon Test
If a 10-year-old can’t understand it, you’re saying too much. “Your eyes are like balloons. The more they stretch, the thinner they get. We’re helping keep that stretch under control so they stay strong and healthy.”
If a kid gets it, Grandma gets it. If the kids and Grandma get it, the parent says yes.
Simplify Myopia Management Conversations
You’re not fixing vision today. You’re protecting sight for tomorrow.
Instead of selling a product, you’re giving a family the power to choose prevention over regret.
Start the conversation: “We can’t stop Johnny from growing, but we can protect how his eyes grow. That could protect his vision for life.”
It’s not about providing clarity. You’re giving reassurance and providing a structured plan.
Parents don’t walk out quoting your numbers. They walk out remembering how you made them feel—calm, confident and cared for.
Read another column from Dr. Mai.
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Thanh Mai, OD, is an owner of Insight Vision Center Optometry, a Vision Source practice in Costa Mesa, California; Optometry Corner, a Vision Source practice in Irvine, California; and Eyecon Optometry, a Vision Source practice in Reseda, California. In addition, Dr. Mai owns Project Eyecare, a Vision Source practice in Mission Viejo, California. To contact him: tmai@visionsource.com |
