The rise in childhood myopia is undeniable. By 2050, over 50% of the global population is expected to be myopic—a trend with serious consequences, including increased risks of retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataracts, and myopic macular degeneration.
This Myopia Awareness Week, I’m calling on fellow eye care professionals to take action. Myopia management should be a routine part of pediatric care—and orthokeratology (ortho-k) is one of the most powerful tools we have.
Ortho-k doesn’t just slow myopia progression; it gives children freedom from daytime lenses and parents peace of mind. It’s clinically effective, lifestyle-friendly, and emotionally rewarding. When a child wakes up seeing clearly and a parent feels reassured about their child’s visual future—that’s the real impact of ortho-k.
We also don’t do this work alone. Strong partnerships with lens manufacturers help us deliver custom, high-quality care that truly changes lives.
Let’s not wait. The time to act is now. Add myopia management to your standard of care—and consider making ortho-k a central part of your strategy.
Read more in the Contact Lens Spectrum article, Why I love Ortho-K (and You Should, Too!).
Written by: JOELLE HOLLAND, OD.
Dr. Joelle Holland practices at Complete Eye Care of Medina in Medina, MN, where she specializes in myopia management.
