The Myopia Control Kit
Thomas Aller, OD, provides in-depth overviews of each myopia management option—pharmacologic therapy, soft contact lenses, orthokeratology, spectacle lenses, and environmental and behavioral interventions—so clinicians can not only provide the right option to each patient, but also address the larger economic and societal burdens of myopia.
By
Thomas Aller, OD
May 1, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: The Myopia Control Kit
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Myopia Key Mechanisms Progressive disease with associations to vision-threatening ocular pathology. Target Population Children with early-onset myopia, rapid progression, and premyopic children. Care Setting Clinical optometry
Key Highlights
Myopia is a progressive disease linked to serious ocular complications. Each additional diopter of myopia increases lifetime risk of visual impairment. Myopia management is essential in contemporary eye care. Low-dose atropine is a versatile pharmacologic therapy for myopia control. Axial length measurements and AL/CR ratio are critical for risk assessment. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize axial length and AL/CR ratio for assessing myopia risk. Management
Implement low-dose atropine therapy for eligible patients. Monitoring & Follow-up
Regularly assess refractive changes and axial length trends. Risks
Increased risk of retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, and glaucoma with higher myopia. Patient & Prescribing Data
Children with early-onset myopia and those at risk of progression.
Atropine therapy is titratable and can be adjusted based on individual response.
Clinical Best Practices
Incorporate family history in risk stratification. Consider monocular trials to assess treatment efficacy. Use AL/CR as an adjunctive marker for early intervention. References
