Myopia management · Practice playbook
Adding a Myopia Management Service for the children already in your chairs.
Most practices already see nearsighted kids every week and hand them a stronger prescription. A myopia service turns that visit into a measured, multi-year program with a clear fee, scheduled follow-up and treatment families can see working.
Quick answer
Start with the myopic kids you already see.
Pick one or two treatments, buy or borrow a way to measure, write a program fee and a consent form, and offer it to every child whose prescription changed this year.
Key takeaways
- The FDA cites the National Eye Institute: myopia affects about 40% of the US population.
- Four treatment families now have trial evidence: soft lenses, ortho-k, spectacle designs and low-dose atropine.
- MiSight (ages 8 to 12) and Stellest (ages 6 to 12) carry FDA myopia-control indications.
- Revenue comes from a program fee, materials and scheduled visits, not one sale.
- Contact lenses and Rx are excluded from the 15% participation credit.
A six-step launch.
Each step fits inside a normal clinic schedule.
Find the cohort
Flag children whose myopia increased since the last exam and kids with two myopic parents.
Choose your modalities
Start with what your team can fit today, then add the next option.
Measure growth
Cycloplegic refraction is the minimum. A biometer makes progress objective.
Write the fee and consent
One page that lists visits, materials, off-label status and the second-year fee.
Train the team
Technicians run measurements; one staff member owns the recall list.
Keep supplies moving
Ortho-k and GP families need solutions and cases. Stock a few and route the rest through RescueLink.
The treatment menu.
Labeled status and evidence as of October 2026.
| Option | US status | Evidence highlight |
|---|---|---|
| MiSight 1 day soft lens | FDA approved 2019, ages 8 to 12 at start | 59% slower refractive progression over 3 years vs single vision |
| Stellest spectacle lens | FDA De Novo authorization 2025, ages 6 to 12 at start | 71% less refractive progression at 24 months |
| Ortho-k | Approved for temporary myopia reduction; myopia control off-label | 43% slower axial elongation over 2 years (ROMIO) |
| Low-dose atropine | No FDA-approved product; compounded and off-label | 0.01% beat placebo over 3 years (CHAMP) |
| Soft multifocals | Myopia control is off-label | +2.50 add slowed progression 0.46 D over 3 years (BLINK) |
Show parents the axial length curve at every visit. A family that sees the line flatten keeps coming back, and that recall is what sustains the service.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need expensive equipment to start?
No. Cycloplegic refraction and a contact lens fitting set are enough to begin. Add a biometer and topographer as volume grows.
Which treatment should I offer first?
Many practices start with the labeled options, MiSight and Stellest, because they fit existing contact lens and optical workflows.
How do I explain off-label options?
Use a written consent that states the option is not FDA labeled for myopia control and why you recommend it.
How is the service paid for?
Mostly through a self-pay program fee plus materials. The coding guide covers common models.
Does the participation credit apply here?
Only to eligible OTC items such as GP care solutions ordered on VisionRescue.com through RescueLink. Contact lenses and Rx are excluded.
References
- US FDA. FDA authorizes marketing of first eyeglass lenses to slow progression of pediatric myopia. September 25, 2025. FDA
- Lawrenson JG, Huntjens B, Virgili G, et al. Interventions for myopia control in children: a living systematic review and network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025;2:CD014758. PubMed
- Wolffsohn JS, Whayeb Y, Logan NS, et al. IMI global trends in myopia management attitudes and strategies in clinical practice, 2022 update. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023;64(6):6. PubMed
About this guide
Written for licensed eye care practices by the Vision Rescue team. Questions: providers@visionrescue.com or 1-855-692-8024.
Important notes and disclosures
This page is not billing, coding or legal advice. Codes, coverage and plan rules vary by payer and state and change over time. Confirm with your billing team and each payer.
Turn the stronger prescription into a plan.
Equip the practice from the wholesale catalog and send families the care products they need through RescueLink.